| TO: | Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2828 by Callegari (Relating to the offense of coercing a person to have or seek an abortion and informed and voluntary consent for an abortion; providing penalties.), As Introduced |
The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to develop and distribute a coerced abortion form to all physicians licensed to practice in this state; the department would also be required to distribute specified sections of Health and Safety Code. DSHS would be required to develop and make available a sign related to coerced abortion. It is assumed that any costs associated with these requirements would not be significant.
The bill would amend Penal Code to create a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person convicted of using coercion to induce a pregnant woman to have or seek an abortion.
A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement could be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected would not have a significant fiscal implication.
| Source Agencies: | 537 State Health Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, MB, LR, NB, KKR
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