BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 739
	By: Johnson
	Administration
	3/28/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Supportive palliative care (SPC) is patient-centered and family-centered health care that optimizes quality of life for seriously ill patients and their family. SPC treatments focus on pain and symptom comfort levels. SPC nurses help treat a patient's pain and suffering, address the needs of the patient, facilitate patient autonomy, and ensure the patient receives relevant information to support their decision making process.

This bill creates a Supportive Palliative Care Awareness Day on October 10th to raise awareness of the care and honor the workers who support seriously ill patients and their families.

Important provisions of S.B. 739:

• Amends the Government Code to create a Supportive Palliative Care Awareness Day on October 10th.
• The day may be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and activities.

As proposed, S.B. 739 amends current law relating to designating October 10 as Supportive Palliative Care Awareness Day.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 662, Government Code, by adding Section 662.081, as follows:

Sec. 662.081. SUPPORTIVE PALLIATIVE CARE AWARENESS DAY. (a) Provides that October 10 is Supportive Palliative Care Awareness Day to raise awareness about supportive palliative care optimizing the quality of life for seriously ill patients and their families.

(b) Authorizes Supportive Palliative Care Awareness Day to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and activities.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.