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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of a public education program regarding |
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unexpected pregnancy and a related study concerning legislation |
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affecting abortion. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0732 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0732. PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM REGARDING |
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UNEXPECTED PREGNANCIES. (a) The commission shall develop a public |
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education program regarding the impact and consequences for women |
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and men of unexpected pregnancies. |
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(b) The public education program developed under Subsection |
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(a) shall include strategies to encourage the biological fathers of |
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children of unexpected pregnancies to support the mothers of those |
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children in order to reduce the occurrence of abortions and the use |
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of abortion facilities in the state. |
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(c) The commission may consult any state agency, council, or |
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task force in the performance of its duties under this section. On |
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request of the commission, a state agency, council, or task force |
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shall assist the commission with the commission's duties under this |
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section. The commission may establish a task force, composed of |
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members appointed by the executive commissioner, to study the |
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impact and consequences of unexpected pregnancies, to provide |
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recommendations on the public education program, and to implement |
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this section. |
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(d) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the commission shall report its findings and recommendations |
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regarding the implementation of the public education program to the |
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legislature. |
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(e) The commission must implement this section using |
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existing resources, and may not accept any private donations or |
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contract with any health care provider, facility, or advocacy group |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0733 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0733. STUDY REGARDING EFFECT OF CERTAIN |
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LEGISLATION. (a) The commission shall conduct an ongoing study to |
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gather data regarding: |
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(1) the effects of H.B. 2, Acts of the 83rd |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 2013, on licensed abortion |
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facilities, access to abortion services in the state, and the |
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number of abortions performed in the state; and |
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(2) the administrative penalties that are assessed as |
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a result of the legislation. |
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(b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the commission shall report the results of the study, its findings, |
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and recommendations to the legislature. |
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(c) The commission must implement this section using |
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existing resources, and may not accept any private donations or |
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contract with any health care provider, facility, or advocacy group |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |