87R1668 SRA-D
 
  By: Swanson H.B. No. 44
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil liability and criminal penalties for performing
  certain abortions; providing civil penalties; creating criminal
  offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 71.002, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  A person is liable for damages arising from a violation
  of Section 170.002(a), 171.043, 171.044, 171.102, or 171.152,
  Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 71.004(b), Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The surviving spouse, children, and parents of the
  deceased may bring the action or one or more of those individuals
  may bring the action for the benefit of all. A next friend may bring
  an action for damages under Section 71.002(f).
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 170, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Sections 170.003 and 170.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 170.003.  CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
  Section 170.002(a) commits an offense.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
  degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if
  the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this
  section or under Section 171.049, 171.103, or 171.153.
         (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under another section of this code or
  the Penal Code, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or
  under both sections.
         Sec. 170.004.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
  Section 170.002(a) is liable to this state for a civil penalty of
  $30,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
         (c)  The attorney general shall file an action under this
  section in a district court in Travis County or the county in which
  the violation occurred.
         (d)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
  incurred in obtaining a civil penalty under this section, including
  court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees,
  and deposition expenses.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 171, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 171.049 and 171.050 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 171.049.  CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a)  A person who violates
  Section 171.043 or 171.044 commits an offense.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
  degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if
  the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this
  section or under Section 170.003, 171.103, or 171.153.
         (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under another section of this code or
  the Penal Code, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or
  under both sections.
         Sec. 171.050.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
  Section 171.043 or 171.044 is liable to this state for a civil
  penalty of $30,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
         (c)  The attorney general shall file an action under this
  section in a district court in Travis County or the county in which
  the violation occurred.
         (d)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
  incurred in obtaining a civil penalty under this section, including
  court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees,
  and deposition expenses.
         SECTION 5.  Section 171.103, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 171.103.  CRIMINAL PENALTY.  (a) A person who violates
  Section 171.102 commits an offense.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
  degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if
  the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this
  section or under Section 170.003, 171.049, or 171.153 [state jail
  felony].
         (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under another section of this code or
  the Penal Code, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or
  under both sections.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter F, Chapter 171, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 171.1045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 171.1045.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
  Section 171.102 is liable to this state for a civil penalty of
  $30,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
         (c)  The attorney general shall file an action under this
  section in a district court in Travis County or the county in which
  the violation occurred.
         (d)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
  incurred in obtaining a civil penalty under this section, including
  court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees,
  and deposition expenses.
         SECTION 7.  Section 171.153, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
  degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if
  the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this
  section or under Section 170.003, 171.049, or 171.103 [state jail
  felony].
         (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under another section of this code or
  the Penal Code, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or
  under both sections.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter G, Chapter 171, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 171.1535 to read as follows:
         Sec. 171.1535.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
  Section 171.152 is liable to this state for a civil penalty of
  $30,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
         (c)  The attorney general shall file an action under this
  section in a district court in Travis County or the county in which
  the violation occurred.
         (d)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
  incurred in obtaining a civil penalty under this section, including
  court costs, attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees,
  and deposition expenses.
         SECTION 9.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
  this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
  immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 10.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only
  to an abortion performed, induced, or attempted on or after the
  effective date of this Act. An abortion performed, induced, or
  attempted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.