By: Kolkhorst, et al.  S.B. No. 23
         (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 11, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
  March 27, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6,
  Nays 2; March 27, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to enforcement of the rights of a living child born after
  an abortion; creating a civil cause of action; creating a criminal
  offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 151.002, Family Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 151.002.  RIGHTS OF A LIVING CHILD AFTER AN ABORTION OR
  PREMATURE BIRTH; CIVIL ACTION; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
         SECTION 2.  Section 151.002, Family Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  For purposes of this section, a physician-patient
  relationship is established between a child born alive after an
  abortion or attempted abortion and the physician who performed or
  attempted the abortion.  A physician who performed or attempted the
  abortion must exercise the same degree of professional skill, care,
  and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a
  reasonably diligent and conscientious physician would render to any
  other child born alive at the same gestational age.
         (d)  A woman on whom an abortion, as defined by Section
  245.002, Health and Safety Code, is performed or attempted to be
  performed may not be held liable under this section.
         (e)  A physician who violates Subsection (c) by failing to
  provide the appropriate medical treatment to a child born alive
  after an abortion or an attempted abortion is liable to the state
  for a civil penalty of not less than $100,000.  The attorney general
  may bring a suit to collect the penalty.  In addition to the civil
  penalty, the attorney general may recover reasonable attorney's
  fees.  The civil penalty described in this subsection is in addition
  to any other recovery authorized under other law.
         (f)  A person who has knowledge of a failure to comply with
  this section shall report to the attorney general.  The identity and
  any personally identifiable information of the person reporting the
  failure to comply with this section is confidential under Chapter
  552, Government Code. 
         (g)  A physician or health care practitioner who violates
  Subsection (c) by failing to provide the appropriate medical
  treatment to a child born alive after an abortion or an attempted
  abortion commits an offense.  An offense under this subsection is a
  felony of the third degree.
         SECTION 3.  Section 151.002, Family Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies only to a child born alive on or after the effective
  date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to the prosecution of an offense committed on or after the effective
  date of this Act.  The prosecution of an offense committed before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
  the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued
  in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of this section, an
  offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any
  element of the offense occurs before the effective date.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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