Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1971

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to providing information regarding perinatal hospice care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; creating an administrative penalty, a civil remedy, and criminal offenses.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1971 would amend several statutes within the Texas Health and Safety Code, specifically regarding how abortions are conducted when a serious disability is diagnosed in an unborn child. Key changes include requiring practitioners to present comprehensive information about perinatal hospice care and placing additional burdens on healthcare providers to certify that the woman has received necessary information before any abortion is performed. The bill reflects a significant shift towards emphasizing life and support options for unborn children diagnosed with disabilities, which can further influence societal views on pregnancies involving disabilities.

Summary

House Bill 1971, known as the Disabled Preborn Justice Act, is a legislative proposal aimed at providing information on perinatal hospice care for pregnancies diagnosed with a life-threatening disability. The bill mandates that healthcare providers inform pregnant women about perinatal hospice options upon diagnosis and create educational materials and a resource list of such care providers. This act seeks to ensure informed decision-making for women who face challenging pregnancy circumstances, encouraging them to consider supportive care rather than solely focusing on abortion as an option.

Contention

Opposition to HB 1971 arises from concerns that the bill may complicate access to abortion services and impose additional emotional stress on women facing difficult decisions regarding their pregnancies. Critics argue that the emphasis on perinatal hospice care could unduly burden women whose decisions are already fraught with emotional and logistical challenges. Proponents of the bill contend that it fosters a supportive environment for parents facing such diagnoses by providing them with resources to ensure they are fully informed about their options.

Companion Bills

TX SB1427

Similar Relating to providing information regarding perinatal hospice care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; creating an administrative penalty, a civil remedy, and criminal offenses.

Previously Filed As

TX SB2199

Relating to protection of individuals from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.

TX HB3588

Relating to an exemption from abortion restrictions for unemancipated minors and the repeal of provisions regarding notice and consent to those abortions.

TX HB122

Relating to professional liability insurance coverage for and prohibitions on providing to certain children procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB22

Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action.

TX HB36

Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action.

TX HB111

Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action.

TX HB2690

Relating to abortion, including civil liability for distribution of abortion-inducing drugs and duties of Internet service providers; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a private civil right of action.

TX HB319

Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.

TX SB14

Relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.

TX HB2538

Relating to the repeal of provisions related to notice and consent to an abortion on a minor.

Similar Bills

TX SB1427

Relating to providing information regarding perinatal hospice care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; creating an administrative penalty, a civil remedy, and criminal offenses.

TX HB2434

Relating to information regarding perinatal palliative care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; creating an administrative penalty, a civil remedy, and a criminal offense.

TX SB1033

Relating to information regarding perinatal palliative care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; creating an administrative penalty, a civil remedy, and a criminal offense.

TX HB3218

Relating to the regulation of abortion, including information regarding perinatal palliative care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; authorizing disciplinary action; providing a civil remedy; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB1173

Relating to the regulation of abortion, including information regarding perinatal palliative care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; authorizing disciplinary action; providing a civil remedy; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB1647

Relating to information regarding perinatal palliative care, regulation of abortion, and the availability of certain defenses to prosecution for homicide and assault offenses; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB3760

Relating to information regarding perinatal palliative care, regulation of abortion, and the availability of certain defenses to prosecution for homicide and assault offenses; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB4339

Relating to prohibiting discriminatory abortions; authorizing disciplinary action; providing a civil remedy; creating a criminal offense.