Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2816 by Burkett (Relating to requirements for physicians who perform abortions; creating an offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 171of the Health and Safety Code relating to requirements for physicians who perform abortions and creating an offense. The bill would require a physician to provide a patient with a telephone number that the patient may use to contact the physician, health care personnel employed by the physician, or personnel employed by the facility at which the abortion was performed who have access to the patient's relevant medical records to request assistance if complications arise. The bill would require the physician to maintain the patient's medical records in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas Medical Board. The bill would create an offense for a physician who violates the provisions of the bill, punishable by a fine, not to exceed $4,000. The Texas Medical Board indicates that the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The bill would create a fine-only Class A misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement could likely be absorbed with existing resources. Revenue from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.
Source Agencies:
503 Texas Medical Board, 537 State Health Services, Department of