87R12247 MCF-D
By: Ramos H.B. No. 4549
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to minimum standards for pregnancy resource centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 174 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 174. PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS
Sec. 174.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "pregnancy
resource center" means an organization, including a pregnancy
counseling organization, crisis pregnancy center, pregnancy care
center, or pregnancy support center, that for a fee or free of
charge provides pregnancy counseling or information but:
(1) does not perform abortions or make referrals to an
abortion provider;
(2) does not provide or make referrals for
comprehensive birth control services;
(3) is not licensed or certified by this state or the
federal government to provide medical or health care services; and
(4) is not required to have a physician under contract
to provide or directly supervise all health care services provided
by the organization.
Sec. 174.002. MINIMUM STANDARDS. (a) The executive
commissioner by rule shall prescribe minimum standards for
pregnancy resource centers.
(b) The minimum standards must protect the health and safety
of a patient of a pregnancy resource center and contain provisions
requiring compliance with the requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter
171. On and after September 1, 2021, the minimum standards for a
pregnancy resource center must be equivalent to the minimum
standards adopted for ambulatory surgical centers under Section
243.010.
(c) Pregnancy resource centers must have at least one
licensed obstetrician or gynecologist present when providing
services to a patient.
(d) This section does not authorize the executive
commissioner to:
(1) establish the qualifications of a licensed health
care practitioner; or
(2) allow a person to provide health care services who
is not authorized to provide those services under other laws of this
state.
(e) A pregnancy resource center or health care practitioner
that violates this section is subject to disciplinary action by the
state agency that regulates the center or practitioner as if the
center or practitioner had violated the applicable licensing law.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 174, Health and Safety
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.