85R12635 KKR-D
 
  By: Dukes H.B. No. 4076
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to fetal alcohol syndrome information provided to pregnant
  patients.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter X to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER X. INFORMATION FOR PREGNANT PATIENTS
         Sec. 161.701.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Health care provider" means:
                     (A)  a physician licensed to practice medicine in
  this state;
                     (B)  a physician assistant licensed under Chapter
  204, Occupations Code;
                     (C)  a midwife licensed under Chapter 203,
  Occupations Code;
                     (D)  an advanced practice nurse as defined by
  Section 301.152, Occupations Code;
                     (E)  a hospital licensed under Chapter 241; or
                     (F)  a birthing center licensed under Chapter 244.
               (2)  "Medically accurate information" means
  information that is:
                     (A)  verified or supported by the weight of
  research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods;
                     (B)  published in peer-reviewed journals, if
  appropriate; and
                     (C)  recognized as accurate, objective, and
  complete by mainstream professional organizations and agencies
  with expertise in the relevant field, including:
                           (i)  the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention of the United States Public Health Service;
                           (ii)  the American College of Obstetricians
  and Gynecologists;
                           (iii)  the American Academy of Pediatrics;
  and
                           (iv)  the surgeon general of the United
  States Department of Health and Human Services.
         Sec. 161.702.  INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL PROVIDED TO PREGNANT
  PATIENT.  (a)  A health care provider providing care to a pregnant
  patient shall, during the patient's first visit with the provider
  concerning the pregnancy, make available to the patient
  informational material that includes medically accurate
  information about the risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant,
  including fetal alcohol syndrome.
         (b)  A health care provider may use the informational
  material provided on the department's Internet website or
  alternative informational material that provides the information
  required by Subsection (a).
         Sec. 161.703.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. (a) The department
  shall:
               (1)  establish guidelines for the provision of the
  information required by Section 161.702;
               (2)  make available on the department's Internet
  website a printable version of the medically accurate informational
  material required by Section 161.702(a); and
               (3)  make the informational material required by
  Section 161.702 available for distribution to health care
  providers, including at the request of a provider.
         (b)  The department may make available online and distribute
  an existing medically accurate publication created by the
  department or another health and human services agency as the
  informational material required by Section 161.702.
         Sec. 161.704.  LIABILITY NOT CREATED. This subchapter does
  not create an obligation or duty that provides a basis for a cause
  of action against a health care provider.  A health care provider is
  immune from administrative, civil, or criminal liability with
  respect to an action taken or not taken under this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2017, the Department of
  State Health Services shall make available the informational
  material required by Subchapter X, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Subchapter X, Chapter 161,
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, a health care provider
  is not required to comply with the requirements of Section 161.702,
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, before January 1,
  2018.
         SECTION 4.  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 September 1, 2017.