BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 485

By: Johnson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Both hospice care and supportive palliative care are critical patient and family-centered services that focus on patient comfort and dignity when suffering from serious illness. While hospice care strictly focuses on end-of-life care, supportive palliative care focuses on improving an individual's quality of life while the individual actively engages in potentially curative or life-prolonging treatments. Distinguishing between the two is important to ensure that patients and their families receive adequate information to support their decision-making processes when dealing with a serious illness. Recognizing both types of care on a state level will bring awareness to these very important and distinct types of care and provide an opportunity to explain the similarities and differences between the two to help patients and their families explore their care options and make informed decisions. This recognition will also honor the hospice and palliative care workers who support seriously ill patients and their families. S.B. 485 seeks to provide this recognition by designating the second Saturday in October as Hospice and Palliative Care Day, which aligns with World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 485 amends the Government Code to designate the second Saturday in October as Hospice and Palliative Care Day to bring awareness to the role of hospice and palliative care in optimizing the quality of life for seriously ill patients and their families. The bill authorizes Hospice and Palliative Care Day to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and activities.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.