| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the care provided to sexual assault survivors by health |
|
|
care facilities. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 323.004, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-2) to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(b) A health care facility providing care to a sexual |
|
|
assault survivor shall provide the survivor with: |
|
|
(1) subject to Subsection (b-1), a forensic medical |
|
|
examination in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 420, |
|
|
Government Code, and Subchapter G, Chapter 56A, Code of Criminal |
|
|
Procedure; |
|
|
(2) a private area, if available, to wait or speak with |
|
|
the appropriate medical, legal, or sexual assault crisis center |
|
|
staff or volunteer until a physician, nurse, or physician assistant |
|
|
is able to treat the survivor; |
|
|
(3) access to a sexual assault program advocate, if |
|
|
available, as provided by Subchapter H, Chapter 56A, Code of |
|
|
Criminal Procedure; |
|
|
(4) the information form required by Section 323.005; |
|
|
(5) a private treatment room, if available; |
|
|
(6) if indicated by the history of contact, access to |
|
|
appropriate prophylaxis for exposure to sexually transmitted |
|
|
infections; |
|
|
(7) the name and telephone number of the nearest |
|
|
sexual assault crisis center; [and] |
|
|
(8) if the health care facility has shower facilities, |
|
|
access to a shower at no cost to the survivor after the examination |
|
|
described by Subdivision (1); and |
|
|
(9) if the survivor consents and the treatment is |
|
|
clinically indicated, an emergency contraceptive approved by the |
|
|
United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy by |
|
|
delaying ovulation. |
|
|
(b-2) A health care facility providing care to a sexual |
|
|
assault survivor may not provide or offer to provide the survivor |
|
|
with a drug or device that terminates a pregnancy. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |