SRC-TJG H.B. 341 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 341
78R10410 YDB-DBy: Uresti (Lindsay)
Health & Human Services
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Several physical and psychological health risks are associated  with
pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.  It has been documented
that postpartum depression, a mood disorder that begins after childbirth,
affects approximately 15 percent of all childbearing women.  Such
disorders may be treated with therapy and support networks.  H.B. 341
requires that parenting and postpartum counseling information be provided
to women undergoing prenatal care to assist them in dealing with
postpartum depression or to provide other needed assistance. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter R, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER R.  PARENTING AND POSTPARTUM COUNSELING INFORMATION

Sec. 161.451.  RESOURCE LIST.  (a) Requires a hospital, birthing center,
physician, or midwife who provides prenatal care to a pregnant women
during gestation or at delivery of an infant to take certain actions. 

(b) Requires the list to include resources a parent may contact to receive
counseling and assistance for postpartum depression and other emotional
traumas associated with pregnancy and parenting. 

(c) Provides that  a hospital, birthing center, physician, or midwife who
provides prenatal care to a woman during gestation or at delivery is
presumed to have complied with this section if the woman received prior
prenatal care from another hospital, birthing center, physician, or
midwife in this state during the same pregnancy. 

Sec. 161.452.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.  Requires the Texas Department of
Health (TDH) to take certain actions. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 241.053(a), Health and Safety Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 244.011(a), Health and Safety Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 164.052(a), Occupations Code, to make a
conforming and a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 203.404(a), Occupations Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 
 
SECTION 6.  (a) Effective date: September 1, 2003, except as provided by
Subsection (c) of this section. 

(b) Requires TDH to establish the guidelines and compile the resource list
required by Subchapter R, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act, not later than January 1, 2004. 

(c) Provides that Sections 241.053(a)(1)(f) and 244.011(a)(3), Health and
Safety Code, and Sections 164.052(a)(18) and 203.404(a)(11), Occupations
Code, as added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2005.