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.