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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to maternal mortality and morbidity and pregnancy-related |
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deaths, including postpartum depression. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall: |
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(1) study and review: |
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(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths; and |
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(B) trends, rates, or disparities in maternal |
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mortality and in severe maternal morbidity; |
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(2) determine the feasibility of the task force |
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studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and |
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(3) make recommendations to help reduce the incidence |
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of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall determine a statistically |
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significant number of cases of pregnancy-related deaths for |
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review. The department shall either randomly select cases or |
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select all cases for the task force to review under this subsection |
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to reflect a cross-section of pregnancy-related deaths in this |
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state. |
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(b) The department shall statistically analyze aggregate |
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data of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in |
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this state to identify any trends, rates, or disparities. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 34.0155 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.0155. REPORT ON MATERNAL MORTALITY AND |
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PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS. The commission shall: |
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(1) evaluate options for reducing maternal mortality, |
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focusing on the most prevalent causes of maternal mortality as |
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identified in the task force's biennial report required under |
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Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in |
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economically disadvantaged women; |
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(2) submit a written report that summarizes the |
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commission's efforts to accomplish the tasks described by |
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Subdivision (1) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, the Legislative Budget |
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Board, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature |
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not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year; and |
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(3) to the extent authorized by state and federal law, |
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apply for federal money to fund the screening and treatment of |
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postpartum depression under Section 10005 of the 21st Century Cures |
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Act (42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.) and consider the |
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recommendations contained in the task force's biennial report in |
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using any federal grant money received. |
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SECTION 4. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to |
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Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued |
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in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is |
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abolished and this chapter expires December 31, 2023 [September 1,
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2019]. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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* * * * * |