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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibited health care discrimination based on |
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vaccination status; providing a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.01095 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.01095. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON |
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VACCINATION STATUS; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) In this section, "health |
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care provider" means an individual or facility licensed, certified, |
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or otherwise authorized to administer health care, for profit or |
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otherwise, in the ordinary course of business or professional |
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practice. The term includes a physician. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a health care provider |
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may not, based on an individual's vaccination status, deny or |
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refuse to provide the individual a health care treatment, |
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procedure, or service. |
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(c) A health care provider who violates this section is |
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subject to a civil penalty of $50,000 for each violation. The |
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attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty |
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and may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred in bringing the |
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action. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |