86R13695 SCL-F
 
  By: Bailes H.B. No. 3873
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 50. ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION PROGRAM
         Sec. 50.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
  245.002.
               (2)  "Program" means the Texas Alternatives to Abortion
  Program established under this chapter.
         Sec. 50.0002.  ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall
  establish the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program to enhance and
  increase resources that promote childbirth for women facing
  unplanned pregnancies.
         (b)  The commission shall establish a statewide network of
  service providers, including pregnancy support centers, adoption
  assistance providers, and maternity homes, to provide the services
  described by Section 50.0003 under the program. The commission may
  contract with the service providers to provide the services in
  accordance with this chapter.
         Sec. 50.0003.  SERVICES. (a) Using the statewide network of
  service providers established under Section 50.0002, the
  commission shall ensure that program services are available
  throughout this state.
         (b)  Services provided under the program include:
               (1)  counseling and mentoring;
               (2)  care coordination for prenatal services,
  including connecting program participants to health programs;
               (3)  educational materials and information about
  pregnancy and parenting;
               (4)  referrals to governmental and social service
  programs, including child care, transportation, housing, and state
  and federal benefit programs;
               (5)  classes on life skills, personal finance,
  parenthood, stress management, job training, job placement, and
  methods for obtaining high school equivalency certificates;
               (6)  provision of supplies for infant care and
  pregnancy, including car seats, cribs, maternity clothes, infant
  diapers, and formula; and
               (7)  support groups in maternity homes.
         (c)  The commission or service providers may not provide
  family planning services under the program.
         Sec. 50.0004.  ELIGIBILITY. The program is available to a
  resident of this state who is:
               (1)  a pregnant woman;
               (2)  the biological father of an unborn child;
               (3)  the biological parent of a child who is 24 months
  of age or younger;
               (4)  an adoptive parent of a child who is 24 months of
  age or younger;
               (5)  a prospective adoptive parent of an unborn child;
               (6)  a former program participant who has experienced
  the loss of a child; and
               (7)  a parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor who
  is a program client.
         Sec. 50.0005.  PROVISION OF SERVICES. The commission and
  service providers shall provide services under the program based on
  the needs of the program participants.
         Sec. 50.0006.  FUNDING. (a) The commission shall, to the
  greatest extent possible, seek federal, governmental, and private
  funding to supplement and match funding provided to the program.
         (b)  The commission or a service provider may not:
               (1)  use funding provided to the program to perform,
  induce, assist, or refer an abortion; or
               (2)  grant program funds to an abortion provider or an
  affiliate of an abortion provider.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2019.