| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to in-person visitation of religious counsel with |
|
|
seriously ill or dying hospital patients and facility residents. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 241.012 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 241.012. IN-PERSON VISITATION OF RELIGIOUS COUNSEL. |
|
|
(a) In this section, "religious counsel" means an individual |
|
|
acting substantially in a pastoral or religious capacity to counsel |
|
|
other individuals. |
|
|
(b) A hospital may not prohibit in-person visitation of |
|
|
religious counsel with a patient at the hospital who is seriously |
|
|
ill or dying. |
|
|
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a hospital may require |
|
|
religious counsel to: |
|
|
(1) submit to a health screening administered by the |
|
|
hospital; and |
|
|
(2) wear personal protective equipment at all times |
|
|
while visiting a patient at the hospital. |
|
|
(d) In the event of a conflict between this section and any |
|
|
other law, this section prevails. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter L, Chapter 242, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 242.506 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 242.506. IN-PERSON VISITATION OF RELIGIOUS COUNSEL. |
|
|
(a) In this section, "religious counsel" means an individual |
|
|
acting substantially in a pastoral or religious capacity to counsel |
|
|
other individuals. |
|
|
(b) A facility may not prohibit in-person visitation of |
|
|
religious counsel with a resident of the facility who is seriously |
|
|
ill or dying. |
|
|
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a facility may require |
|
|
religious counsel to: |
|
|
(1) submit to a health screening administered by the |
|
|
facility; and |
|
|
(2) wear personal protective equipment at all times |
|
|
while visiting a resident at the facility. |
|
|
(d) In the event of a conflict between this section and any |
|
|
other law, this section prevails. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2021. |