By Ogden H.B. No. 2814
74R6542 DLF-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the right not to perform or assist in performing an
1-3 abortion.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 1, 2, and 3, Chapter 745, Acts of the
1-6 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977 (Article 4512.7, Vernon's
1-7 Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 1. A physician, nurse, staff member, student, intern,
1-9 resident, or employee of a hospital, educational institution, or
1-10 <other> health care facility who objects to performing or
1-11 participating, directly or indirectly, in an abortion procedure may
1-12 not be required to perform or participate, directly or indirectly,
1-13 in an abortion procedure.
1-14 Sec. 2. A private hospital, private educational institution,
1-15 or private health care facility may not be required to make its
1-16 facilities available for the performance of an abortion unless a
1-17 physician determines that the life of the mother is immediately
1-18 endangered or if otherwise required by federal law.
1-19 Sec. 3. A hospital, educational institution, or health care
1-20 facility may not discriminate in any manner against a physician,
1-21 nurse, staff member, student, intern, resident, or employee or
1-22 against an applicant for such positions, who refuses to perform or
1-23 participate in an abortion procedure. No physician, nurse, staff
1-24 person, student, intern, resident, or employee shall be
2-1 discriminated against for their willingness to participate in
2-2 abortion procedures at other facilities. An educational
2-3 institution may not discriminate against applicants for admission
2-4 or employment as students, interns, or residents because of their
2-5 attitudes concerning abortion.
2-6 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Chapter
2-7 745, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977 (Article
2-8 4512.7, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), applies only to conduct
2-9 that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Conduct
2-10 that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by
2-11 the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this
2-12 Act, and that law is continued in effect for this purpose.
2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19 passage, and it is so enacted.