86R13695 SCL-F
By: Bailes H.B. No. 3873
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 50. ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION PROGRAM
Sec. 50.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
245.002.
(2) "Program" means the Texas Alternatives to Abortion
Program established under this chapter.
Sec. 50.0002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall
establish the Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program to enhance and
increase resources that promote childbirth for women facing
unplanned pregnancies.
(b) The commission shall establish a statewide network of
service providers, including pregnancy support centers, adoption
assistance providers, and maternity homes, to provide the services
described by Section 50.0003 under the program. The commission may
contract with the service providers to provide the services in
accordance with this chapter.
Sec. 50.0003. SERVICES. (a) Using the statewide network of
service providers established under Section 50.0002, the
commission shall ensure that program services are available
throughout this state.
(b) Services provided under the program include:
(1) counseling and mentoring;
(2) care coordination for prenatal services,
including connecting program participants to health programs;
(3) educational materials and information about
pregnancy and parenting;
(4) referrals to governmental and social service
programs, including child care, transportation, housing, and state
and federal benefit programs;
(5) classes on life skills, personal finance,
parenthood, stress management, job training, job placement, and
methods for obtaining high school equivalency certificates;
(6) provision of supplies for infant care and
pregnancy, including car seats, cribs, maternity clothes, infant
diapers, and formula; and
(7) support groups in maternity homes.
(c) The commission or service providers may not provide
family planning services under the program.
Sec. 50.0004. ELIGIBILITY. The program is available to a
resident of this state who is:
(1) a pregnant woman;
(2) the biological father of an unborn child;
(3) the biological parent of a child who is 24 months
of age or younger;
(4) an adoptive parent of a child who is 24 months of
age or younger;
(5) a prospective adoptive parent of an unborn child;
(6) a former program participant who has experienced
the loss of a child; and
(7) a parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor who
is a program client.
Sec. 50.0005. PROVISION OF SERVICES. The commission and
service providers shall provide services under the program based on
the needs of the program participants.
Sec. 50.0006. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall, to the
greatest extent possible, seek federal, governmental, and private
funding to supplement and match funding provided to the program.
(b) The commission or a service provider may not:
(1) use funding provided to the program to perform,
induce, assist, or refer an abortion; or
(2) grant program funds to an abortion provider or an
affiliate of an abortion provider.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.