Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2150 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/08/2019

                    86R14566 JG-D
 By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2150


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the reporting of certain information on maternal
 mortality to the Department of State Health Services.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 34.001, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by adding Subdivisions (11-a) and (12-a) and amending
 Subdivisions (12) and (14) to read as follows:
 (11-a)  "Pregnancy-associated death" means the death
 of a woman by any cause that occurs during or within one year of
 delivery or end of pregnancy, regardless of the outcome or location
 of the pregnancy.
 (12)  "Pregnancy-related death" means the death of a
 woman while pregnant or within one year of delivery or end of
 pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, duration, or location [and
 site] of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by
 the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or
 incidental causes.
 (12-a) "Review committee" means the Maternal Mortality
 and Morbidity Review Committee.
 (14)  "Task force" means the review committee [Maternal
 Mortality and Morbidity Task Force].
 SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 34.002, Health and Safety
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 34.002.  MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY REVIEW
 COMMITTEE; REFERENCE IN LAW [TASK FORCE].
 SECTION 3.  Section 34.002, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
 read as follows:
 (a)  The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee
 [Task Force] is administered by the department.
 (a-1)  Notwithstanding any other law, a reference in this
 chapter or other law to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task
 Force means the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee.
 SECTION 4.  Section 34.017, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
 (c)  The department may allow voluntary and confidential
 reporting to the department of pregnancy-associated deaths and
 pregnancy-related deaths by health care professionals, health care
 facilities, and persons who complete the medical certification for
 a death certificate for deaths reviewed or analyzed by the review
 committee.
 (d)  The department shall allow voluntary and confidential
 reporting to the department of pregnancy-associated deaths and
 pregnancy-related deaths by family members of or other appropriate
 individuals associated with a deceased patient. The department
 shall:
 (1)  post on the department's Internet website the
 contact information for a report submitted under this subsection;
 and
 (2)  conduct outreach to local health organizations on
 the availability of the review committee to review and analyze the
 deaths.
 SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.