83S20209 AJZ-F
By: King of Taylor H.B. No. 50
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the development of a public education program regarding
unexpected pregnancy and a related study concerning legislation
affecting abortion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0732 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0732. PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM REGARDING
UNEXPECTED PREGNANCIES. (a) The commission shall develop a public
education program regarding the impact and consequences for women
and men of unexpected pregnancies.
(b) The public education program developed under Subsection
(a) shall include strategies to encourage the biological fathers of
children of unexpected pregnancies to support the mothers of those
children in order to reduce the occurrence of abortions and the use
of abortion facilities in the state.
(c) The commission may consult any state agency, council, or
task force in the performance of its duties under this section. On
request of the commission, a state agency, council, or task force
shall assist the commission with the commission's duties under this
section. The commission may establish a task force, composed of
members appointed by the executive commissioner, to study the
impact and consequences of unexpected pregnancies, to provide
recommendations on the public education program, and to implement
this section.
(d) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the commission shall report its findings and recommendations
regarding the implementation of the public education program to the
legislature.
(e) The commission must implement this section using
existing resources, and may not accept any private donations or
contract with any health care provider, facility, or advocacy group
to implement this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0733 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0733. STUDY REGARDING EFFECT OF CERTAIN
LEGISLATION. (a) The commission shall conduct an ongoing study to
gather data regarding:
(1) the effects of H.B. 2 and S.B. 1, Acts of the 83rd
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 2013, or similar legislation of
the 83rd Legislature, 2nd Called Session, on licensed abortion
facilities, access to abortion services in the state, and the
number of abortions performed in the state; and
(2) the administrative penalties that are assessed as
a result of the legislation.
(b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the commission shall report the results of the study, its findings,
and recommendations to the legislature.
(c) The commission must implement this section using
existing resources, and may not accept any private donations or
contract with any health care provider, facility, or advocacy group
to implement this section.
SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
section, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of
the legislative session.
(b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect on the 91st day after
the last day of the legislative session, but only if H.B. 2 or S.B.
1, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 2013, or
similar legislation of the 83rd Legislature, 2nd Called Session, is
enacted and becomes law. If H.B. 2 or S.B. 1, Acts of the 83rd
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 2013, or similar legislation of
the 83rd Legislature, 2nd Called Session, does not become law,
Section 2 of this Act has no effect.