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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the screening of certain women for substance use and |
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postpartum depression. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. SUBSTANCE USE AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SCREENING |
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Sec. 32.081. SUBSTANCE USE AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION |
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SCREENING OF CERTAIN WOMEN. (a) A physician or other person |
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authorized by law to attend a pregnant woman or woman who has been |
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pregnant at any time during the preceding year shall screen the |
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woman for substance use and postpartum depression. |
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(b) The commission shall make available to physicians and |
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other persons required to conduct a screening under Subsection (a) |
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information that includes: |
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(1) guidance regarding the process for verbally |
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screening a pregnant woman for substance use or a woman who has been |
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pregnant for postpartum depression using a standardized and |
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validated screening tool; and |
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(2) a list of substance use and postpartum depression |
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treatment resources in each geographic region of this state. |
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(c) A physician or other person described by Subsection (a) |
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is not required to comply with that subsection if the physician or |
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other person determines compliance is not possible or would |
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otherwise be inappropriate. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement the |
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changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than June 1, 2018, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall make the information described by |
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Section 32.081, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, |
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available to physicians and other persons authorized by law to |
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attend a pregnant woman or a woman who has been pregnant at any time |
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during the preceding year. |
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(b) A physician or other person described by Subsection (a) |
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of this section is not required to conduct the screenings described |
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by Section 32.081, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, |
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before December 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |