BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 497 By: Madla Health and Human Services 2-23-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND The Texas Natural Death Act was passed in the late 1980s, concurrent with the federal Advance Directives legislation. Together these Acts created Texas' position on providing the right to die to terminally ill individuals. Texas law requires two physicians to certify that an individual is indeed terminally ill before the individual's directives can be rendered. This two-physician clause may cause difficulty for these individuals, particularly in rural areas where access to any physician may be limited. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 497 redefines "qualified patient" to mean a patient who has been diagnosed by one attending physician, rather than two physicians. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 672.002(8), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "qualified patient" to mean a patient who has been diagnosed by the attending physician, rather than the attending physician and one other physician. SECTION 2. Amends Section 672.004, Health and Safety Code, to authorize a written directive to physicians to include certification of the terminal illness by one or more physicians. Sets forth the language for the directive. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.