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Senate Bill 17 (1st C.S.) |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst et al. |
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Effective: 8-16-17 |
House Sponsor: Burkett et al. |
Senate Bill 17 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force to study and review trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as determined in the joint biennial report of the task force's findings and recommendations; and best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths. The bill requires the task force to compare rates of pregnancy‑related deaths based on the socioeconomic status of the mother and provides for the screening for substance abuse and domestic violence of pregnant women and for the promotion of specific educational materials to such women.
Senate Bill 17 gives the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) the option of selecting all cases of pregnancy-related deaths for the task force to review to reflect a cross‑section of pregnancy related deaths in Texas as an alternative to randomly selecting such cases. The bill provides for a report by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) on pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and postpartum depression; a maternal health and safety initiative by DSHS in collaboration with the task force; a feasibility study related to such initiative; and a report on the processes and procedures for collecting cause of death information. The bill changes the composition of the task force.