By Longoria                                            H.B. No. 213
         77R1011 JAT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the time at which life begins.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Chapter 168 to read as follows:
 1-6                    CHAPTER 168.  MOMENT THAT LIFE BEGINS
 1-7           Sec. 168.001.  MOMENT THAT LIFE BEGINS.  The life of an
 1-8     individual human organism begins at the moment of fertilization.
 1-9           Sec. 168.002.  RIGHTS OF UNBORN.  An unborn human organism is
1-10     alive and is entitled to the rights, protections, and privileges
1-11     accorded to any other person in this state.
1-12           Sec. 168.003.  POWER TO ENACT.  This chapter is enacted
1-13     pursuant to the power reserved to this state under the Tenth
1-14     Amendment to the United States Constitution.
1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it is
1-16     enacted, as required by Section 39, Article III, Texas
1-17     Constitution, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to
1-18     each house.  If this Act does not receive the votes required for
1-19     immediate effect, this Act takes effect on August 27, 2001.