AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, each health and human services agency is required to maintain a list of certain types of health and human services provider applicants (e.g., youth camps, hospitals, child-care facilities) that have been denied a license or had their license revoked. This list enables health and human services agencies to share such information. A provider applicant on this list may have their initial or renewal application denied by a licensing agency under certain conditions. 

 

As introduced, S.B. 114 expands the types of health and human service providers subject to inclusion to this list to include abortion facilities. This change will enable Texas' health and human services licensing agencies to take an applicant's previous licensure record into consideration when reviewing an application for an abortion facility license. This change would allow such agencies to treat abortion providers the same way the state currently treats youth camps, hospitals, and child care facilities regarding licensing.

 

As proposed, S.B. 114 amends current law relating to the applicability of adverse licensing, listing, or registration decisions by certain health and human services agencies.

 

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 Section 531.951(a), Government Code, as follows:

 

(a) Provides that this subchapter applies only to the final licensing, listing, or registration decisions of a health and human services agency with respect to a person under the law authorizing the agency to regulate the following types of persons:

 

(1)-(4) Makes no changes to these subdivisions;

 

(4-a) an abortion facility licensed under Chapter 245 (Abortion Facilities), Health and Safety Code;

 

(5)-(11) Makes no changes to these subdivisions.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.