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AN ACT
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relating to information required to be provided to parents of an |
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infant. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 161.501 and 161.502, Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.501. RESOURCE PAMPHLET AND RESOURCE GUIDE PROVIDED |
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TO PARENTS OF NEWBORN CHILDREN. (a) A hospital, birthing center, |
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physician, nurse midwife, or midwife who provides prenatal care to |
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a pregnant woman during gestation or at delivery of an infant shall: |
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(1) provide the woman and the father of the infant, if |
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possible, or another adult caregiver for the infant, with a |
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resource pamphlet that includes: |
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(A) a list of the names, addresses, and phone |
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numbers of professional organizations that provide postpartum |
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counseling and assistance to parents relating to postpartum |
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depression and other emotional trauma associated with pregnancy and |
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parenting; |
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(B) information regarding the prevention of |
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shaken baby syndrome including: |
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(i) techniques for coping with anger caused |
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by a crying baby; |
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(ii) different methods for preventing a |
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person from shaking a newborn, infant, or other young child; |
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(iii) the dangerous effects of shaking a |
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newborn, infant, or other young child; and |
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(iv) the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome |
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and who to contact, as recommended by the American Academy of |
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Pediatrics, if a parent suspects or knows that a baby has been |
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shaken in order to receive prompt medical treatment; |
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(C) a list of diseases for which a child is |
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required by state law to be immunized and the appropriate schedule |
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for the administration of those immunizations; and |
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(D) the appropriate schedule for follow-up |
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procedures for newborn screening; |
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(2) if the woman is a recipient of medical assistance |
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under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, provide the woman and the |
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father of the infant, if possible, or another adult caregiver with a |
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resource guide that includes information in both English and |
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Spanish relating to the development, health, and safety of a child |
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from birth until age five, including information relating to: |
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(A) selecting and interacting with a primary |
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health care practitioner and establishing a "medical home" for the |
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child; |
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(B) dental care; |
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(C) effective parenting; |
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(D) child safety; |
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(E) the importance of reading to a child; |
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(F) expected developmental milestones; |
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(G) health care resources available in the state; |
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(H) selecting appropriate child care; and |
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(I) other resources available in the state; |
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(3) document in the woman's record that the woman |
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received the resource pamphlet [information] described in |
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Subdivision (1) and the resource guide described in Subdivision |
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(2), if applicable; and |
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(4) [(3)] retain the documentation for at least five |
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years in the hospital's, birthing center's, physician's, nurse |
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midwife's, or midwife's records. |
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(b) A hospital, birthing center, physician, nurse midwife, |
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or midwife: |
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(1) may use the pamphlet provided on the department's |
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website or an alternative pamphlet that provides the information |
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required by Subsection (a)(1); and |
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(2) may use the resource guide provided on the |
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department's website or an alternative guide that provides the |
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information required by Subsection (a)(2) [this section]. |
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(c) The department may make available online and distribute |
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an existing publication created by another health and human |
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services agency as the resource guide required by Subsection |
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(a)(2). |
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Sec. 161.502. DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. (a) The department |
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shall: |
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(1) establish guidelines for the provision of the |
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information required by Section 161.501; |
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(2) make available on the department's website: |
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(A) a printable version of the pamphlet required |
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by Section 161.501(a)(1) [161.501]; and |
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(B) a printable version of the resource guide |
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required by Section 161.501(a)(2); |
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(3) update the list of resources and required |
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immunizations in the pamphlet required under Subdivision (2)(A) |
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[(2)] quarterly; |
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(4) make the pamphlet and resource guide required by |
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Section 161.501 available for distribution to hospitals, |
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physicians, birthing centers, nurse midwives, and midwives; and |
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(5) coordinate funding for the development, |
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publication, and distribution of the informational pamphlet and |
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resource guide with other health and human services agencies, and |
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solicit funding for the department's duties under this subchapter |
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through means other than appropriations, such as gifts, grants, and |
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sales of sponsorship or advertising. |
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(b) The department may include additional information in |
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the pamphlet or resource guide as appropriate for parents of |
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newborns. |
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(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall develop |
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specific performance measures by which the commission may evaluate |
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the effectiveness of the resource guide under Section 161.501(a)(2) |
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in: |
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(1) reducing costs to the state; and |
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(2) improving outcomes for children. |
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(d) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit a report to |
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the legislature on the effectiveness of the resource guide under |
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Section 161.501(a)(2), including legislative recommendations |
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concerning the guide. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1240 was passed by the House on March |
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31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1240 was passed by the Senate on May |
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14, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |