H.B. No. 785
AN ACT
relating to the provision of embryo donation information.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 159, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Section 159.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 159.011. INFORMATION ABOUT EMBRYO DONATION. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Assisted reproduction" has the meaning assigned
by Section 160.102, Family Code.
(2) "Embryo donation" means the act of transferring to
another person a human embryo for implantation in any person who is
not a genetic parent of the human embryo or the spouse of a genetic
parent of the human embryo.
(3) "Human embryo" means a genetically complete living
organism of the species Homo sapiens, from the single-cell
fertilized egg to the blastocyst stage.
(b) A physician who performs on a patient an assisted
reproduction procedure that involves the creation of a human embryo
shall inform the patient of the option of embryo donation for unused
human embryos.
SECTION 2. Chapter 162, Family Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. EMBRYO DONATION INFORMATION
Sec. 162.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Department" means the Department of Family and
Protective Services.
(2) "Embryo donation" has the meaning assigned by
Section 159.011, Occupations Code.
Sec. 162.702. INFORMATION REGARDING EMBRYO DONATION. The
department shall post information regarding embryo donation on the
department's Internet website. The information must include
contact information for nonprofit organizations that facilitate
embryo donation.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 785 was passed by the House on May 6,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 785 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor