BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1081
85R16808 KKR-F	By: Burton
	Health & Human Services
	3/29/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, Section 81.091, Health and Safety Code, requires a physician, nurse, midwife, or other person attending a birth to apply an antibiotic ointment to the newborn�s eyes. The ointment prevents ophthalmia neonatorum and associated complications such as blindness that may arise in the newborn through a birth to a mother with certain, untreated, sexually transmitted infections.

Some parents refuse the administration of the ointment. A parent�s refusal puts the healthcare provider at risk since there is no exemption for refusing the ointment and no statutorily authorized process for documenting a parent�s refusal.

C.S.S.B. 1081 protects healthcare providers in these situations by specifying that a provider attending a childbirth does not commit an offense under this section and is not subject to criminal, civil, or administrative liability or any professional disciplinary action for failure to administer the ointment due to a parent's refusal. The provider must document this refusal in the newborn's medical record.

Under this change, the requirement to apply the ointment in statute is unaffected and healthcare providers are protected from civil or criminal liability if they are unable to apply the ointment because of the refusal of a parent.

C.S.S.B. 1081 amends current law relating to the administration of prophylaxis to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum.�

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 81.091, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsection (g-1), as follows:

(g) Creates an exception under Subsection (g-1).

(g-1) Provides that a physician, nurse, midwife, or other person in attendance at childbirth who is unable to apply the prophylaxis as required by this section (Ophthalmia Neonatorum Prevention; Criminal Penalty) due to the objection of a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the newborn infant does not commit an offense under this section and is not subject to criminal, civil, or administrative liability or any professional disciplinary action for failure to administer the prophylaxis. Requires the physician, nurse, midwife, or person to ensure that the objection of the parent, managing conservator, or guardian is entered into the infant�s medical record.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.