88R1023 SRA-F
By: Noble H.B. No. 61
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibited logistical support by a governmental entity
for procurement of an abortion or an abortion provider's services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2273, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 2273.0031 to read as follows:
Sec. 2273.0031. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT PROHIBITED. (a) Except
as provided by Subsection (b), a governmental entity may not enter
into a taxpayer resource transaction or appropriate or spend money
to provide to any person logistical support for the express purpose
of assisting a woman with procuring an abortion or an abortion
provider's services. Logistical support includes providing money
for:
(1) child care;
(2) travel or any form of transportation to or from an
abortion provider;
(3) lodging;
(4) food or food preparation;
(5) counseling that encourages a woman to have an
abortion; and
(6) any other service that facilitates the provision
of an abortion.
(b) This section does not apply to a taxpayer resource
transaction entered into or money appropriated or spent by a
governmental entity that is subject to a federal law in conflict
with Subsection (a) as the executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission determines and the attorney general
confirms in writing.
SECTION 2. Section 2273.004(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of
the state to enjoin a violation of Section 2273.003 or 2273.0031
[2272.003]. The attorney general may recover reasonable attorney's
fees and costs incurred in bringing an action under this
subsection.
SECTION 3. It is the intent of the legislature that every
provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word
in this Act, and every application of the provisions in this Act to
each person or entity, is severable from each other. If any
application of any provision in this Act to any person, group of
persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid for any
reason, the remaining applications of that provision to all other
persons and circumstances shall be severed and may not be affected.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.