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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to abortions; authorizing a good faith requirement for |
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medical emergencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 171.205, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 171.205. EXCEPTION FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY; RECORDS. |
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(a) Sections 171.203 and 171.204 do not apply if a physician, in |
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good faith, believes a medical emergency exits that prevents |
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compliance with this subchapter. |
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(b) A physician who performs or induces an abortion under |
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circumstances described by subsection (a) shall make written |
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notations in the pregnant woman's medical record of: |
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(1) the physician's good faith belief that a medical |
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emergency necessitated the abortion; and |
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(2) the medical condition of the pregnant woman that |
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prevented compliance with this subchapter. |
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(c) A physician performing or inducing an abortion under |
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this section shall maintain in the physician's practice records a |
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copy of the notations made under Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an abortion performed or induced on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This act takes effect September 1, 2023. |