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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a maternal health care workforce campaign. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 32.022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.022. MATERNAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE CAMPAIGN. (a) |
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In this section, "maternal health care professional" means a |
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professional who is certified or licensed in this state to provide |
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maternal health care, including a doula and an individual who |
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provides nonmedical support during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and |
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the postpartum period. |
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(b) Using available resources, the department shall develop |
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and implement a public outreach campaign to increase the number of |
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maternal health care professionals in this state's health care |
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workforce to improve access to maternal health care in rural areas |
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of this state and other areas with a shortage of maternal health |
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care professionals. The department shall design the campaign to: |
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(1) prioritize continuing education for maternal |
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health care professionals; |
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(2) facilitate the implementation of training |
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programs to: |
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(A) provide trauma-informed care training for |
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all maternal health care professionals; |
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(B) increase the number of maternal health care |
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professionals in rural areas of this state and other areas with a |
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shortage of maternal health care professionals; and |
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(C) increase the number in the maternal health |
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care workforce of health care professionals who are members of |
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racial or ethnic minority groups; |
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(3) increase the overall capacity of the maternal |
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health care workforce in this state, including by investing in |
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equipment and locations to provide maternal health care; and |
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(4) facilitate the implementation of maternal health |
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care programs to improve access to maternal health care and provide |
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services to women of underserved racial or ethnic minority groups. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules and the Department of |
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State Health Services shall develop and implement the maternal |
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health care workforce campaign required by Section 32.022, Health |
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and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |