BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 11

By: Thierry

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the high maternal mortality rate in Texas. Interested parties note that the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force provides critical information on maternal mortality trends and demographics in Texas and contend that work still needs to be done to more directly address the causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Texas. C.S.H.B. 11 seeks to facilitate this work by postponing the date on which the task force is abolished and expanding the task force's duties.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 11 amends the Health and Safety Code to expand the duties of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force to study and review certain topics by requiring the task force to also collect data on those topics and by including among those topics trends, rates, health conditions and factors, and disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; the most prevalent health conditions and factors that caused death in African American women as identified in the task force's joint biennial report; and best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths. The bill requires the task force to compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on the socioeconomic status of the mother.

C.S.H.B. 11 gives the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) the option of selecting all cases of pregnancy-related deaths for the task force to review to reflect a cross-section of pregnancy‑related deaths in Texas as an alternative to randomly selecting such cases. The bill specifies that the DSHS analysis of aggregate data of severe maternal morbidity in Texas to identify any trends is a statistical analysis, extends that required analysis to data of pregnancy‑related deaths in Texas, and expands the purposes of the analysis to include identifying rates or disparities.

C.S.H.B. 11 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to evaluate options for reducing pregnancy-related deaths, focusing on the most prevalent causes of pregnancy-related deaths as identified in the task force's joint biennial report, and for treating postpartum depression in economically disadvantaged women. The bill requires HHSC, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a written report summarizing the efforts of HHSC and DSHS to accomplish those tasks to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.

C.S.H.B. 11 postpones from September 1, 2019, to September 1, 2023, the date on which the task force is abolished and provisions relating to the task force expire unless continued in existence as provided by the Texas Sunset Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 11 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Texas Moms Matter Act.	SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 2.  Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 34.005.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.  The task force shall: (1)  study, [and] review, and collect data on: (A)  cases of pregnancy-related deaths; [and] (B)  trends, rates, health conditions and factors, and disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; (C)  health conditions and factors that caused death in the most at-risk population as determined in the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report (July 2016); and (D)  best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths; (2)  compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on the socioeconomic status of the mother; (3)  determine the feasibility of the task force studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and (4) [(3)]  make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this state.	SECTION 2.  Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 34.005.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.  The task force shall: (1)  study, [and] review, and collect data on: (A)  cases of pregnancy-related deaths; [and] (B)  trends, rates, health conditions and factors, and disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; (C)  the most prevalent health conditions and factors that caused death in African American women as identified in the task force's biennial report required under Section 34.015; and (D)  best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths; (2)  compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on the socioeconomic status of the mother; (3)  determine the feasibility of the task force studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and (4) [(3)]  make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this state.
SECTION 3.  Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety Code, are amended.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 4.  Section 34.015(b), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (b)  The report must include the task force's recommendations under Section 34.005(4) [34.005(3)].
SECTION 4.  Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended.	SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 5.  Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is amended.	SECTION 6. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.	SECTION 7. Same as introduced version.