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House Bill 16 |
House Author: Leach et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-19 |
Senate Sponsor: Kolkhorst et al. |
House Bill 16 amends the Family Code to establish a physician‑patient relationship between a child born alive after an abortion and the physician who performed or attempted to perform the abortion. The bill requires the physician to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious physician would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. The bill creates a third degree felony offense for a physician or health care practitioner who fails to provide the appropriate medial treatment to such a child and makes a physician who fails to do so liable for a civil penalty. The bill requires a person who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these provisions to report to the attorney general.