BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2381
88R12599 MCF-F	By: Paxton
	Health & Human Services
	4/1/2023
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Assessing valuable information on pregnancy-related resources can be overly burdensome to some expectant mothers who are already stretched thin on time.

 

This bill requires the Health and Human Services Commission to compile its information on pregnancy-related resources, such as prenatal and postnatal care, adoption agencies, as well as information about financial assistance programs, and utilize the expertise of the Department of Information Resources to create a publicly accessible Texas.gov website and mobile application to contain this comprehensive searchable information. The goal is to empower each mother with the information she needs to provide the best future for her child, because in Texas, every mother matters.

 

As proposed, S.B. 2381 amends current law relating to the development of a webpage and mobile application for the provision of pregnancy-related resources and information.

 

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 Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter X, as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER X. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

 

Sec. 161.701. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION WEBPAGE. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), in consultation with the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), to develop and maintain on the Texas.gov Internet website a publicly accessible webpage of pregnancy-related resources and information, including any available:

 

(1) resources for:

 

(A) mental health counseling, pregnancy counseling, and other prenatal and postpartum services;

 

(B) mentorship opportunities, including pregnancy assistance and case management;

 

(C) health care and well-being services, including services for obstetrical and gynecological support, abortion pill reversal, breastfeeding assistance, health care, and dental care;

 

(D) financial assistance, employment opportunities, nutrition assistance, child care options, and educational opportunities;

 

(E) legal services, including legal services for child support, custody issues, family leave, and breastfeeding protections;

 

(F) professional support, including tax preparation;

 

(G) financial and housing assistance, including assistance with food, nutrition, clothing, household goods, baby supplies, housing options, shelter options, maternity home options, and crisis pregnancy center options;

 

(H) recovery and mental health services, including services for addiction or suicide intervention, counseling services for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or sex trafficking, and counseling services for the unexpected loss of a child;

 

(I) prenatal diagnostic services, including disability support organizations, newborn medical interventions, and perinatal hospice services;

 

(J) healing and support services for abortion survivors and the survivors' families; and

 

(K) services related to providing care for children, including services for public and private adoption, foster care, and short-term child care;

 

(2) information about:

 

(A) alternatives to abortion;

 

(B) abortion risks, including complications and failures;

 

(C) child development beginning at conception;

 

(D) pregnancy wellness;

 

(E) family planning;

 

(F) the Healthy Texas Women program defined by Section 32.151 (Definitions);

 

(G) the Alternatives to Abortion program administered by HHSC; and

 

(H) any pregnancy-related services provided by a county in this state; and

 

(3) any other resources or information considered helpful to pregnant women.

 

(b) Requires that the webpage described by Subsection (a):

 

(1) through a series of questions, provide the person accessing the webpage information tailored to the person's answers, including information regarding risks related to abortion at all stages of gestation;

 

(2) allow for webpage users to submit feedback regarding whether the webpage is user-friendly and helpful in providing tailored answers described by Subdivision (1); and

 

(3) include a tool to search for resources described by Subsection (a) by zip code and county.

 

Sec. 161.702. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION MOBILE APPLICATION. Requires DIR, in consultation with HHSC, to develop a mobile application that provides the resources and information described by Section 161.701(a) and satisfies the requirements described by Section 161.701(b).

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.