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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of the Texas Maternal Mortality and |
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Morbidity Review Committee and the collection, maintenance, and |
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disclosure of maternal health records regarding miscarriage and |
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lack of access to therapeutic termination of pregnancy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF REVIEW COMMITTEE. The review |
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committee shall: |
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(1) study and review: |
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(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths, including |
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deaths related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage or |
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attributable to lack of access to therapeutic termination of |
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pregnancy; |
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(B) trends, rates, or disparities in |
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pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity, including |
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severe maternal morbidity related to miscarriage or threatened |
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miscarriage or attributable to lack of access to therapeutic |
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termination of pregnancy; |
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(C) health conditions and factors that |
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disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as |
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determined in the joint biennial report required under Section |
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34.015; and |
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(D) best practices and programs operating in |
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other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths; |
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(2) compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on |
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the socioeconomic status of the mother; |
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(3) determine the feasibility of the review committee |
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studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and |
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(4) in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory |
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Council, make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of |
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pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. Section 34.007, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) In addition to the data required under Subsection (b) |
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and cases selected under Subsection (c), the department shall |
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aggregate and submit to the review committee data regarding cases |
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of death and severe maternal morbidity: |
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(1) related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage; |
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or |
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(2) attributable to lack of access to therapeutic |
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termination of pregnancy. |
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SECTION 3. Section 34.013, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.013. INAPPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), this [This] chapter does not apply to |
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disclosure of records pertaining to voluntary or therapeutic |
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termination of pregnancy, and those records may not be collected, |
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maintained, or disclosed under this chapter. |
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(b) Records on cases of deaths or severe maternal morbidity |
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related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage or attributable to |
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lack of access to therapeutic termination of pregnancy may be |
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collected, maintained, and disclosed for purposes of this chapter |
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and subject to the requirements of this chapter. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |