BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 82
85S10123 DMS-D	By: Kolkhorst
	Health & Human Services
	7/20/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force (task force) established by S.B. 495, 83rd Legislature, is a multidisciplinary group tasked to study maternal mortality and morbidity in Texas. The task force has produced two reports since its inception, providing critical information on maternal mortality and morbidity trends and demographics in Texas. Considering the findings of the task force, much work still needs to be done to more directly address the causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Texas.

 

S.B. 82 as proposed extends the expiration date of the task force from September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. S.B. 82 also directs the Health and Human Services Commission to evaluate options to address the most prevalent causes of maternal death as identified by the task force.

 

As proposed, S.B. 82 amends current law relating to pregnancy-related deaths and maternal morbidity, including postpartum depression.

 

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 34.005, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. Requires the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force (task force) to:

 

(1) study and review:

 

(A) makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(B) trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity, rather than trends in severe maternal morbidity;

 

(C) health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as determined in the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) 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) and (4) redesignates existing Subdivisions (2) and (3) as Subdivisions (3) and (4) and makes no further changes to these subdivisions.�

 

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

(a) Requires DSHS to either randomly select cases or select all cases for the task force to review under this subsection to reflect a cross-section of pregnancy-related deaths in this state.

 

(b) Requires DSHS to statistically analyze aggregate data of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this state to identify any trends, rates, or disparities.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 34.0155, as follows:

 

Sec. 34.0155. REPORT ON PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to:

 

(1) 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 required under Section 34.015 (Reports), and for treating postpartum depression in economically disadvantaged women; and

 

(2) submit a written report summarizing HHSC�s and DSHS�s efforts to accomplish the tasks described by Subdivision (1) 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 not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year.

 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, to provide that, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325 (Sunset Law), Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), the task force is abolished and this chapter (Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force) expires September 1, 2023, rather than September 1, 2019.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.