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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study concerning maternal mortality and morbidity in |
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the state's African American population. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 34.0175 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.0175. STUDY ON MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY |
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AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION; REPORT. (a) The task force and |
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the department shall conduct a study to evaluate the causes of |
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maternal mortality and morbidity in the state's African American |
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population. The study must evaluate health conditions and factors |
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that disproportionately affect the African American population, |
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including: |
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(1) cardiac health conditions; |
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(2) preeclampsia, eclampsia, and other hypertensive |
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disorders; |
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(3) obesity; and |
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(4) stress-related health factors. |
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(b) The study must compare rates of maternal mortality and |
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morbidity based on the socioeconomic status of the mother. |
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(c) At the conclusion of the study, the task force and the |
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department shall develop recommendations on: |
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(1) reducing the incidence of pregnancy-related |
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deaths and severe maternal morbidity; |
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(2) patient outreach and education; |
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(3) health care provider training; |
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(4) best practices that have been identified as |
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successful in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity; and |
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(5) programs operating in other states that have |
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reduced maternal mortality and morbidity rates. |
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(d) The task force and the department shall prepare a |
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written report that summarizes the study's findings and the task |
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force's recommendations to be submitted not later than September 1, |
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2022. This report is in addition to the biennial report required |
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under Section 34.015. |
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(e) The biennial report required under Section 34.015 |
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submitted in 2018 and the report submitted in 2020 must include |
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trends identified in conducting the study required under this |
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section that highlight differences affecting the state's African |
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American population compared to other populations related to |
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maternal mortality and morbidity. This section expires September |
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1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject |
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to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless |
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continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force |
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is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2019]. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |