Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB495 by Huffman (Relating to the creation of a task force to study maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. ), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Title 2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to the creation of a task force to study maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. The bill would require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to administer the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and may use technology to eliminate travel expenses of the task force. Under the provisions of the bill, DSHS would be required to determine a statistically significant number of cases of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity for the task force to review. Additionally, the bill would require DSHS and the task force to submit a joint biennial report, beginning September 1, 2016, to the legislature on best practices to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity. DSHS would be required to submit a report to the legislature by September 1, 2014 on the progress in establishing the task force and any recommendations for legislation to assist DSHS in studying pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity. The bill states that the task force is subject to the Sunset Act and would be abolished on September 1, 2019 if it is not continued. Based on the analysis provided by DSHS, it is assumed that the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.