By: Plesa, Oliverson, Leach, Orr, Campos, H.B. No. 37
      et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to perinatal bereavement care provided by certain
  hospitals, a perinatal bereavement care initiative, and a perinatal
  bereavement care hospital recognition program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Everly's Law in honor of
  Everly Grace Talman, whose story inspired this legislation.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle G, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 328. PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES
         Sec. 328.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (2)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (3)  "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter
  241 or a teaching hospital, as defined by Section 58A.001,
  Education Code.
               (4)  "Initiative" means the perinatal bereavement care
  initiative established under Section 328.003.
               (5)  "Perinatal bereavement care" means the provision
  of supportive care for a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting
  fetal condition.
               (6)  "Perinatal bereavement device" means a device with
  technology capable of delaying for bereavement purposes the
  deterioration of human tissue for up to 72 hours following an
  intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth.
               (7)  "Recognition program" means the hospital
  recognition program established under Section 328.004.
         Sec. 328.002.  PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES REQUIRED
  IN CERTAIN HOSPITALS. A hospital assigned a maternal level of care
  designation under Section 241.182 shall, following an intrauterine
  fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth, make available to the
  expectant parents and family members for a period equal to the
  length of stay recommended by a medical professional for a birth:
               (1)  perinatal bereavement care counseling options;
  and
               (2)  any available perinatal bereavement device.
         Sec. 328.003.  PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE INITIATIVE. (a)
  The department shall establish and administer a perinatal
  bereavement care initiative to improve access to and quality of
  perinatal bereavement care in this state.
         (b)  Under the initiative, the department may provide to
  hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under
  Section 241.182 the following resources for the hospital's
  provision of perinatal bereavement care:
               (1)  for hospital personnel who provide maternal care,
  training on interacting with parents and family members in a
  considerate and respectful manner following an intrauterine fetal
  demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth;
               (2)  a perinatal bereavement device, including:
                     (A)  training for personnel on the use of the
  device; and
                     (B)  support to maintain the device; and
               (3)  any other resources necessary for providing
  perinatal bereavement care.
         (c)  In providing resources to hospitals under the
  initiative, the department shall prioritize hospitals that:
               (1)  lack access to a perinatal bereavement device;
               (2)  treat a greater number of high-risk maternal
  patients; and
               (3)  deliver a greater number of babies.
         (d)  The department, as appropriate and using money
  appropriated or otherwise available for that purpose, may award
  grants under the initiative to hospitals assigned a maternal level
  of care designation under Section 241.182 to increase access to
  perinatal bereavement care resources.
         (e)  The department may accept gifts, grants, and donations
  from any source for the purposes of the initiative.
         Sec. 328.004.  HOSPITAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM. The executive
  commissioner, in collaboration with the Perinatal Advisory Council
  established under Section 241.187, shall:
               (1)  develop and implement a program to recognize
  hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under
  Section 241.182 that provide perinatal bereavement care training to
  hospital personnel; and
               (2)  adopt criteria for awarding recognition to a
  hospital under the recognition program.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission may adopt the rules necessary to implement
  Chapter 328, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.