| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to pregnancy-related deaths and maternal morbidity, |
|
|
including postpartum depression. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Moms Matter |
|
|
Act. |
|
|
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 3. Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The department shall determine a statistically |
|
|
significant number of cases of pregnancy-related deaths for review. |
|
|
The department shall 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) The department shall statistically analyze aggregate |
|
|
data of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in |
|
|
this state to identify any trends, rates, or disparities. |
|
|
SECTION 4. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 34.0155 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 34.0155. REPORT ON PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND |
|
|
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. The commission shall: |
|
|
(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 biennial report required |
|
|
under Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in |
|
|
economically disadvantaged women; and |
|
|
(2) submit a written report summarizing the |
|
|
commission's and department'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 5. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to |
|
|
Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued |
|
|
in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is |
|
|
abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2019]. |
|
|
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. |