By: Maxey H.B. No. 978
73R4719 JBN-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the power of certain minors to consent to health care
1-3 services.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 35.03(a), Family Code, is amended to read
1-6 as follows:
1-7 (a) A minor may consent to the furnishing of hospital,
1-8 medical, surgical, and dental care by a licensed physician or
1-9 dentist if the minor:
1-10 (1) is on active duty with the armed services of the
1-11 United States of America;
1-12 (2) is 16 years of age or older and resides separate
1-13 and apart from his parents, managing conservator, or guardian,
1-14 whether with or without the consent of the parents, managing
1-15 conservator, or guardian and regardless of the duration of such
1-16 residence, and is managing his own financial affairs, regardless of
1-17 the source of the income;
1-18 (3) consents to the diagnosis and treatment of any
1-19 infectious, contagious or communicable disease which is required by
1-20 law or regulation adopted pursuant to law to be reported by the
1-21 licensed physician or dentist to a local health officer or the
1-22 Texas Department of Health and including all sexually transmitted
1-23 diseases;
1-24 (4) is unmarried and pregnant, and consents to
2-1 hospital, medical, or surgical treatment, other than abortion,
2-2 related to her pregnancy;
2-3 (5) is unmarried and has actual custody of the minor's
2-4 child <is 18 years of age or older and consents to the donation of
2-5 his blood and the penetration of tissue necessary to accomplish the
2-6 donation>; or
2-7 (6) consents to examination and treatment for chemical
2-8 addiction, chemical dependency, or any other condition directly
2-9 related to chemical use.
2-10 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
2-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-15 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-16 passage, and it is so enacted.