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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50. ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION PROGRAM |
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Sec. 50.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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245.002. |
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(2) "Program" means the Texas Alternatives to Abortion |
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Program established under this chapter. |
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Sec. 50.0002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall |
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establish the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program to enhance and |
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increase resources that promote childbirth for women facing |
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unplanned pregnancies. |
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(b) The commission shall establish a statewide network of |
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service providers, including pregnancy support centers, adoption |
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assistance providers, and maternity homes, to provide the services |
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described by Section 50.0003 under the program. The commission may |
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contract with the service providers to provide the services in |
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accordance with this chapter. |
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Sec. 50.0003. SERVICES. (a) Using the statewide network of |
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service providers established under Section 50.0002, the |
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commission shall ensure that program services are available |
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throughout this state. |
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(b) Services provided under the program include: |
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(1) counseling and mentoring; |
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(2) care coordination for prenatal services, |
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including connecting program participants to health programs; |
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(3) educational materials and information about |
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pregnancy and parenting; |
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(4) referrals to governmental and social service |
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programs, including child care, transportation, housing, and state |
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and federal benefit programs; |
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(5) classes on life skills, personal finance, |
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parenthood, stress management, job training, job placement, and |
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methods for obtaining high school equivalency certificates; |
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(6) provision of supplies for infant care and |
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pregnancy, including car seats, cribs, maternity clothes, infant |
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diapers, and formula; and |
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(7) support groups in maternity homes. |
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(c) The commission or service providers may not provide |
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family planning services under the program. |
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Sec. 50.0004. ELIGIBILITY. The program is available to a |
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resident of this state who is: |
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(1) a pregnant woman; |
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(2) the biological father of an unborn child; |
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(3) the biological parent of a child who is 24 months |
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of age or younger; |
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(4) an adoptive parent of a child who is 24 months of |
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age or younger; |
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(5) a prospective adoptive parent of an unborn child; |
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(6) a former program participant who has experienced |
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the loss of a child; and |
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(7) a parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor who |
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is a program client. |
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Sec. 50.0005. PROVISION OF SERVICES. The commission and |
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service providers shall provide services under the program based on |
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the needs of the program participants. |
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Sec. 50.0006. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall, to the |
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greatest extent possible, seek federal, governmental, and private |
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funding to supplement and match funding provided to the program. |
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(b) The commission or a service provider may not: |
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(1) use funding provided to the program to perform, |
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induce, assist, or refer an abortion; or |
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(2) grant program funds to an abortion provider or an |
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affiliate of an abortion provider. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |