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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to perinatal bereavement care provided by certain |
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hospitals, a perinatal bereavement care initiative, and a perinatal |
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bereavement care hospital recognition program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 328. PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES |
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Sec. 328.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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(3) "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter |
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241. |
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(4) "Initiative" means the perinatal bereavement care |
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initiative established under Section 328.003. |
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(5) "Perinatal bereavement care" means the provision |
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of supportive care for a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting |
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fetal condition. |
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(6) "Perinatal bereavement device" means a device with |
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technology capable of delaying for bereavement purposes the |
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deterioration of human tissue for up to 72 hours following an |
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intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth. |
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(7) "Recognition program" means the hospital |
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recognition program established under Section 328.004. |
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Sec. 328.002. PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES REQUIRED |
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IN CERTAIN HOSPITALS. A hospital assigned a maternal level of care |
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designation under Section 241.182 shall, following an intrauterine |
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fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth, make available to the |
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expectant parents and family members for a period equal to the |
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length of stay recommended by a medical professional for a birth: |
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(1) perinatal bereavement care counseling options; |
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and |
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(2) any available perinatal bereavement device. |
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Sec. 328.003. PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE INITIATIVE. (a) |
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The department shall establish and administer a perinatal |
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bereavement care initiative to improve access to and quality of |
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perinatal bereavement care in this state. |
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(b) Under the initiative, the department may provide to |
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hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under |
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Section 241.182 the following resources for the hospital's |
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provision of perinatal bereavement care: |
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(1) for hospital personnel who provide maternal care, |
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training on interacting with parents and family members in a |
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considerate and respectful manner following an intrauterine fetal |
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demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth; |
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(2) a perinatal bereavement device, including: |
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(A) training for personnel on the use of the |
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device; and |
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(B) support to maintain the device; and |
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(3) any other resources necessary for providing |
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perinatal bereavement care. |
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(c) In providing resources to hospitals under the |
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initiative, the department shall prioritize hospitals that: |
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(1) lack access to a perinatal bereavement device; |
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(2) treat a greater number of high-risk maternal |
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patients; and |
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(3) deliver a greater number of babies. |
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(d) The department, as appropriate and using money |
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appropriated or otherwise available for that purpose, may award |
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grants under the initiative to hospitals assigned a maternal level |
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of care designation under Section 241.182 to increase access to |
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perinatal bereavement care resources. |
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(e) The department may accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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from any source for the purposes of the initiative. |
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Sec. 328.004. HOSPITAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM. The executive |
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commissioner, in collaboration with the Perinatal Advisory Council |
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established under Section 241.187, shall: |
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(1) develop and implement a program to recognize |
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hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under |
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Section 241.182 that provide perinatal bereavement care training to |
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hospital personnel; and |
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(2) adopt criteria for awarding recognition to a |
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hospital under the recognition program. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission may adopt the rules necessary to implement |
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Chapter 328, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |