By: Lucio, Bettencourt S.B. No. 24

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 11, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; March 13, 2019, rereferred to Committee on State Affairs; March 27, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 27, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 24 By: Lucio

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of informational materials and certain other information to a pregnant woman before an abortion.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 171.012, Health and Safety Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(b) The information required to be provided under Subsections (a)(1) and (2) may not be provided by audio or video recording and must be provided at least 24 hours before the abortion is to be performed:

(1) orally and in person in a private and confidential setting if the pregnant woman currently lives less than 100 miles from the nearest abortion provider that is a facility licensed under Chapter 245 or a facility that performs more than 50 abortions in any 12-month period; or

(2) orally by telephone on a private call or in person in a private and confidential setting if the pregnant woman certifies that the woman currently lives 100 miles or more from the nearest abortion provider that is a facility licensed under Chapter 245 or a facility that performs more than 50 abortions in any 12-month period.

(f) The physician who is to perform the abortion, or the physician's designee, shall in person hand to the pregnant woman a copy of the informational materials described by Section 171.014:

(1) on the day of the consultation required under Subsection (a)(4) for a pregnant woman who lives less than 100 miles from the nearest abortion provider that is a facility licensed under Chapter 245 or a facility in which more than 50 abortions are performed in any 12-month period; or

(2) before any sedative or anesthesia is administered to the pregnant woman on the day of the abortion and at least two hours before the abortion if the woman lives 100 miles or more from the nearest abortion provider that is a facility licensed under Chapter 245 or a facility in which more than 50 abortions are performed in any 12-month period.

SECTION 2. Section 171.012, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an abortion performed on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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