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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to signs required to be displayed at certain facilities |
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that perform abortions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 171, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 171.0125 and 171.0126 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 171.0125. REQUIRED SIGNS AT CERTAIN FACILITIES: |
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AVAILABLE RESOURCES. (a) An ambulatory surgical center licensed |
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under Chapter 243 that performs more than 50 abortions in any |
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12-month period or an abortion facility licensed under Chapter 245 |
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shall conspicuously display a sign that satisfies the requirements |
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of this section in each patient admission area, waiting room, and |
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patient consulting room. |
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(b) The sign required by this section must be in English and |
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Spanish and display the following text: |
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You can't be forced. No one can make you have an abortion |
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against your will, even if you are a minor. In fact, forcing a |
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minor to have an abortion is considered child abuse. If you |
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are a minor being forced into making a particular decision, |
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you can report it by calling the Texas Abuse Hotline at |
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1-800-252-5400. The call is free and the hotline operates 24 |
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hours per day, 365 days per year. |
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You and the father. The father of your child must provide |
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support for the child, even if he has offered to pay for an |
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abortion. The Child Support Division of the Office of the |
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Attorney General can help you locate your child's father and |
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determine that he is the father. The Child Support Division |
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can also help establish and enforce child support orders and |
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collect money owed, as well as distribute child support |
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payments. To learn more about child support services, call |
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the Child Support Division at (512) 460-6000. |
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You and adoption. The law allows adoptive parents to pay |
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costs of prenatal care, childbirth, and newborn care. To |
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learn more about adoption services and the organizations |
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available to assist you, call Woman's Right to Know at (512) |
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776-6917. |
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You are not alone. Many agencies are willing to help you carry |
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your child to term and to assist you after your child's birth. |
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This includes providing access to health care services for |
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mother and baby, supplies, healthy food items, nutrition |
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education, and in-home support. |
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(c) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement and |
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enforce this section. |
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Sec. 171.0126. REQUIRED SIGNS AT CERTAIN FACILITIES: HUMAN |
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TRAFFICKING. (a) An ambulatory surgical center licensed under |
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Chapter 243 that performs more than 50 abortions in any 12-month |
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period or an abortion facility licensed under Chapter 245 shall |
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conspicuously display a sign that satisfies the requirements of |
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this section in each patient admission area, waiting room, and |
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patient consulting room. |
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(b) The sign required by this section must be in English and |
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Spanish and display the following text: |
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WARNING: Being forced to engage in sexual activity or forced |
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to obtain an abortion is illegal under Texas law. Call the national |
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human trafficking hotline: 1-888-373-7888. |
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(c) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement and |
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enforce this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2015, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt the rules necessary to implement Sections 171.0125 and |
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171.0126, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. An ambulatory surgical center or abortion |
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facility is not required to comply with Sections 171.0125 and |
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171.0126, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, before |
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January 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |