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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to in-person visitation with hospital patients during |
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certain periods of disaster. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 241.012(c), (g), and (i), Health and |
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Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a hospital may during a |
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qualifying period of disaster: |
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(1) restrict the number of visitors a patient |
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receiving care or treatment at the hospital may receive at any one |
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time to not fewer than one; |
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(2) require a visitor to the hospital to: |
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(A) complete a health screening before entering |
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the hospital; and |
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(B) wear personal protective equipment at all |
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times while visiting a patient at the hospital; and |
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(3) deny entry to or remove from the hospital's |
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premises a visitor who fails or refuses to: |
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(A) submit to or meet the requirements of a |
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health screening administered by the hospital; or |
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(B) wear personal protective equipment that |
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meets the hospital's infection control and safety requirements in |
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the manner prescribed by the hospital. |
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(g) A determination made by an attending physician under |
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Subsection (f)(2) must be in writing and is valid for not more than |
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48 hours [five days] after [the date] the determination is made |
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unless renewed by an attending physician. A renewal of the |
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determination must be in writing, is valid for not more than 48 |
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hours after the renewal is made, and may be renewed in the same |
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manner as the initial determination. |
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(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a |
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hospital may not prohibit in-person visitation by a religious |
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counselor of the patient's choosing with a patient who is receiving |
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care or treatment at the hospital [and who is seriously ill or |
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dying] for a reason other than the religious counselor's failure to |
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comply with a requirement described by Subsection (c)(2). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |