| 1 | 1 | | By: Landgraf H.B. No. 2924 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to information regarding Down syndrome. |
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| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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| 9 | 9 | | by adding Subchapter W to read as follows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SUBCHAPTER W. INFORMATION REGARDING DOWN SYNDROME |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 161.651. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (1) "Down syndrome" means a chromosomal condition |
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| 13 | 13 | | caused by the presence of an extra whole or partial copy of |
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| 14 | 14 | | chromosome 21. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) "Health care facility" has the meaning assigned by |
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| 16 | 16 | | Section 82.002. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (3) "Health care provider" has the meaning assigned by |
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| 18 | 18 | | Section 34.001 and includes a genetic counselor. |
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| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 161.652. INFORMATION REGARDING DOWN SYNDROME. (a) The |
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| 20 | 20 | | department shall provide written information regarding Down |
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| 21 | 21 | | syndrome to health care facilities and health care providers that |
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| 22 | 22 | | furnish prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling to |
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| 23 | 23 | | expectant parents and parents no later than January 1, 2016. The |
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| 24 | 24 | | written information must include: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) information addressing physical, developmental, |
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| 26 | 26 | | educational, and psychosocial outcomes, life expectancy, clinical |
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| 27 | 27 | | course, and intellectual and functional development for |
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| 28 | 28 | | individuals with Down syndrome; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (2) information regarding available treatment options |
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| 30 | 30 | | for individuals with Down syndrome; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (3) contact information for national and local Down |
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| 32 | 32 | | syndrome education and support programs and services, including |
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| 33 | 33 | | information hotlines, resource centers, and clearinghouses. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (b) The written information described by Subsection (a) |
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| 35 | 35 | | must be current, evidence-based information that: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) has been reviewed by medical experts and both |
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| 37 | 37 | | local and national Down syndrome organizations; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) is designed to inform: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (A) expectant parents who receive a prenatal test |
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| 40 | 40 | | result indicating a probability or diagnosis that the unborn child |
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| 41 | 41 | | has Down syndrome; or |
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| 42 | 42 | | (B) a parent of a child who is diagnosed with Down |
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| 43 | 43 | | syndrome; and |
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| 44 | 44 | | (3) does not discriminate based on disability or |
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| 45 | 45 | | genetic variation by explicitly or implicitly presenting pregnancy |
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| 46 | 46 | | termination as an option when a prenatal test indicates that the |
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| 47 | 47 | | unborn child has Down syndrome or any other health condition. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (c) The written information described by Subsection (a) |
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| 49 | 49 | | must be published in English and Spanish. |
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| 50 | 50 | | (d) The department shall make the written information |
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| 51 | 51 | | described by Subsection (a) available on the department's Internet |
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| 52 | 52 | | website. |
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| 53 | 53 | | (e) A health care provider shall provide the written |
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| 54 | 54 | | information described by Subsection (a) to: |
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| 55 | 55 | | (1) expectant parents who receive a prenatal test |
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| 56 | 56 | | result indicating a probability or diagnosis that the unborn child |
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| 57 | 57 | | has Down syndrome; or |
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| 58 | 58 | | (2) a parent of a child who receives a diagnosis of |
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| 59 | 59 | | Down syndrome. |
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| 60 | 60 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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