By Harris S.B. No. 468
76R4727 DLF-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to licensing requirements for certain persons providing
1-3 abortion services.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 245.004, Health and Safety Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 245.004. EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENT. The
1-8 following facilities need not be licensed under this chapter:
1-9 (1) a hospital licensed under Chapter 241 (Texas
1-10 Hospital Licensing Law); or
1-11 (2) the office of a physician licensed under the
1-12 Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-13 Statutes), unless 10 or more abortion procedures are performed in
1-14 the office in a year [is used primarily for the purpose of
1-15 performing abortions].
1-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-17 SECTION 3. The office of a physician that is exempt from the
1-18 licensing requirement of Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code, under
1-19 Section 245.004, Health and Safety Code, as it existed immediately
1-20 before the effective date of this Act, but that is required to be
1-21 licensed under Section 245.004, Health and Safety Code, as amended
1-22 by this Act, is not required to be licensed before January 1, 2000.
1-23 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.