S.B. No. 8
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain prohibited abortions and the treatment and
  disposition of a human fetus, human fetal tissue, and embryonic and
  fetal tissue remains; creating a civil cause of action; imposing a
  civil penalty; creating criminal offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.001(1), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (1)  "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
  245.002, Health and Safety Code [means the use of any means to
  terminate the pregnancy of a female known by the attending
  physician to be pregnant, with the intention that the termination
  of the pregnancy by those means will with reasonable likelihood
  cause the death of the fetus]. This definition, as applied in this
  chapter, [applies only to an unemancipated minor known by the
  attending physician to be pregnant and] may not be construed to
  limit a minor's access to contraceptives.
         SECTION 2.  Section 161.006(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  In this code, "abortion" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code [means an intentional
  expulsion of a human fetus from the body of a woman induced by any
  means for the purpose of causing the death of the fetus].
         SECTION 3.  Section 170.001(1), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
  245.002 [means an act involving the use of an instrument, medicine,
  drug, or other substance or device developed to terminate the
  pregnancy of a woman if the act is done with an intention other than
  to:
                     [(A)     increase the probability of a live birth of
  the unborn child of the woman;
                     [(B)  preserve the life or health of the child; or
                     [(C)  remove a dead fetus].
         SECTION 4.  Section 171.002(1), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
  245.002 [means the use of any means to terminate the pregnancy of a
  female known by the attending physician to be pregnant with the
  intention that the termination of the pregnancy by those means
  will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of the fetus].
         SECTION 5.  Section 171.061(1), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section
  245.002. This definition, as applied in this subchapter, may not be
  construed to apply to an act done with the intent to [means the act
  of using, administering, prescribing, or otherwise providing an
  instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or
  means with the intent to terminate a clinically diagnosable
  pregnancy of a woman and with knowledge that the termination by
  those means will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of
  the woman's unborn child.   An act is not an abortion if the act is
  done with the intent to:
                     [(A)     save the life or preserve the health of an
  unborn child;
                     [(B)     remove a dead, unborn child whose death was
  caused by spontaneous abortion;
                     [(C)  remove an ectopic pregnancy; or
                     [(D)]  treat a maternal disease or illness for
  which a prescribed drug, medicine, or other substance is indicated.
         SECTION 6.  Chapter 171, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapters F and G to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F.  PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS
         Sec. 171.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Partial-birth abortion" means an abortion in
  which the person performing the abortion:
                     (A)  for the purpose of performing an overt act
  that the person knows will kill the partially delivered living
  fetus, deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living
  fetus until:
                           (i)  for a head-first presentation, the
  entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother; or
                           (ii)  for a breech presentation, any part of
  the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother;
  and
                     (B)  performs the overt act described in Paragraph
  (A), other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially
  delivered living fetus.
               (2)  "Physician" means an individual who is licensed to
  practice medicine in this state, including a medical doctor and a
  doctor of osteopathic medicine.
         Sec. 171.102.  PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS PROHIBITED.  (a)  A
  physician or other person may not knowingly perform a partial-birth
  abortion.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a physician who
  performs a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the
  life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder,
  physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering
  physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy.
         Sec. 171.103.  CRIMINAL PENALTY. A person who violates
  Section 171.102 commits an offense.  An offense under this section
  is a state jail felony.
         Sec. 171.104.  CIVIL LIABILITY. (a)  Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), the father of the fetus or a parent of the mother of
  the fetus, if the mother is younger than 18 years of age at the time
  of the partial-birth abortion, may bring a civil action to obtain
  appropriate relief, including:
               (1)  money damages for physical injury, mental anguish,
  and emotional distress; and
               (2)  exemplary damages equal to three times the cost of
  the partial-birth abortion.
         (b)  A person may not bring or maintain an action under this
  section if:
               (1)  the person consented to the partial-birth
  abortion; or
               (2)  the person's criminally injurious conduct resulted
  in the pregnancy.
         Sec. 171.105.  HEARING. (a)  A physician who is the subject
  of a criminal or civil action for a violation of Section 171.102 may
  request a hearing before the Texas Medical Board on whether the
  physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of a mother whose
  life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or
  physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition
  caused by or arising from the pregnancy.
         (b)  The board's findings under Subsection (a) are
  admissible in any court proceeding against the physician arising
  from that conduct. On the physician's motion, the court shall delay
  the beginning of a criminal or civil trial for not more than 60 days
  for the hearing to be held under Subsection (a).
         Sec. 171.106.  APPLICABILITY. A woman on whom a
  partial-birth abortion is performed or attempted in violation of
  this subchapter may not be prosecuted under this subchapter or for
  conspiracy to commit a violation of this subchapter.
  SUBCHAPTER G. DISMEMBERMENT ABORTIONS
         Sec. 171.151.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
  "dismemberment abortion" means an abortion in which a person, with
  the purpose of causing the death of an unborn child, dismembers the
  living unborn child and extracts the unborn child one piece at a
  time from the uterus through the use of clamps, grasping forceps,
  tongs, scissors, or a similar instrument that, through the
  convergence of two rigid levers, slices, crushes, or grasps, or
  performs any combination of those actions on, a piece of the unborn
  child's body to cut or rip the piece from the body. The term does
  not include an abortion that uses suction to dismember the body of
  an unborn child by sucking pieces of the unborn child into a
  collection container. The term includes a dismemberment abortion
  that is used to cause the death of an unborn child and in which
  suction is subsequently used to extract pieces of the unborn child
  after the unborn child's death.
         Sec. 171.152.  DISMEMBERMENT ABORTIONS PROHIBITED. (a)  A
  person may not intentionally perform a dismemberment abortion
  unless the dismemberment abortion is necessary in a medical
  emergency.
         (b)  A woman on whom a dismemberment abortion is performed,
  an employee or agent acting under the direction of a physician who
  performs a dismemberment abortion, or a person who fills a
  prescription or provides equipment used in a dismemberment abortion
  does not violate Subsection (a).
         Sec. 171.153.  CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a)  A person who violates
  Section 171.152 commits an offense.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
         Sec. 171.154.  CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. (a)  This
  subchapter shall be construed, as a matter of state law, to be
  enforceable to the maximum possible extent consistent with but not
  further than federal constitutional requirements, even if that
  construction is not readily apparent, as such constructions are
  authorized only to the extent necessary to save the subchapter from
  judicial invalidation.  Judicial reformation of statutory language
  is explicitly authorized only to the extent necessary to save the
  statutory provision from invalidity.
         (b)  If any court determines that a provision of this
  subchapter is unconstitutionally vague, the court shall interpret
  the provision, as a matter of state law, to avoid the vagueness
  problem and shall enforce the provision to the maximum possible
  extent.  If a federal court finds any provision of this subchapter
  or its application to any person, group of persons, or
  circumstances to be unconstitutionally vague and declines to impose
  the saving construction described by this subsection, the Supreme
  Court of Texas shall provide an authoritative construction of the
  objectionable statutory provisions that avoids the constitutional
  problems while enforcing the statute's restrictions to the maximum
  possible extent and shall agree to answer any question certified
  from a federal appellate court regarding the statute.
         (c)  A state executive or administrative official may not
  decline to enforce this subchapter, or adopt a construction of this
  subchapter in a way that narrows its applicability, based on the
  official's own beliefs concerning the requirements of the state or
  federal constitution, unless the official is enjoined by a state or
  federal court from enforcing this subchapter.
         (d)  This subchapter may not be construed to:
               (1)  authorize the prosecution of or a cause of action
  to be brought against a woman on whom an abortion is performed or
  induced in violation of this subchapter; or
               (2)  create or recognize a right to abortion or a right
  to a particular method of abortion.
         SECTION 7.  Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 173 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 173.  DONATION OF HUMAN FETAL TISSUE
         Sec. 173.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Authorized facility" means:
                     (A)  a hospital licensed under Chapter 241;
                     (B)  a hospital maintained or operated by this
  state or an agency of this state;
                     (C)  an ambulatory surgical center licensed under
  Chapter 243; or
                     (D)  a birthing center licensed under Chapter 244.
               (2)  "Human fetal tissue" means any gestational human
  organ, cell, or tissue from an unborn child.  The term does not
  include:
                     (A)  supporting cells or tissue derived from a
  pregnancy or associated maternal tissue that is not part of the
  unborn child; or
                     (B)  the umbilical cord or placenta, provided that
  the umbilical cord or placenta is not derived from an elective
  abortion.
         Sec. 173.002.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter does not apply
  to:
               (1)  human fetal tissue obtained for diagnostic or
  pathological testing; 
               (2)  human fetal tissue obtained for a criminal
  investigation;
               (3)  human fetal tissue or human tissue obtained during
  pregnancy or at delivery of a child, provided the tissue is obtained
  by an accredited public or private institution of higher education
  for use in research approved by an institutional review board or
  another appropriate board, committee, or body charged with
  oversight applicable to the research; or
               (4)  cell lines derived from human fetal tissue or
  human tissue existing on September 1, 2017, that are used by an
  accredited public or private institution of higher education in
  research approved by an institutional review board or another
  appropriate board, committee, or body charged with oversight
  applicable to the research.
         Sec. 173.003.  ENFORCEMENT. (a)  The department shall
  enforce this chapter.
         (b)  The attorney general, on request of the department or a
  local law enforcement agency, may assist in the investigation of a
  violation of this chapter.
         Sec. 173.004.  PROHIBITED DONATION.  A person may not donate
  human fetal tissue except as authorized by this chapter.
         Sec. 173.005.  DONATION BY AUTHORIZED FACILITY. (a)  Only
  an authorized facility may donate human fetal tissue. An
  authorized facility may donate human fetal tissue only to an
  accredited public or private institution of higher education for
  use in research approved by an institutional review board or
  another appropriate board, committee, or body charged with
  oversight applicable to the research.
         (b)  An authorized facility may not donate human fetal tissue
  obtained from an elective abortion.
         Sec. 173.006.  INFORMED CONSENT REQUIRED. An authorized
  facility may not donate human fetal tissue under this chapter
  unless the facility has obtained the written, voluntary, and
  informed consent of the woman from whose pregnancy the fetal tissue
  is obtained. The consent must be provided on a standard form
  prescribed by the department.
         Sec. 173.007.  CRIMINAL PENALTY.  (a)  A person commits an
  offense if the person:
               (1)  offers a woman monetary or other consideration to:
                     (A)  have an abortion for the purpose of donating
  human fetal tissue; or
                     (B)  consent to the donation of human fetal
  tissue; or
               (2)  knowingly or intentionally solicits or accepts
  tissue from a fetus gestated solely for research purposes.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor
  punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000.
         (c)  With the consent of the appropriate local county or
  district attorney, the attorney general has concurrent
  jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor to prosecute an
  offense under this section.
         Sec. 173.008.  RECORD RETENTION. Unless another law
  requires a longer period of record retention, an authorized
  facility may not dispose of any medical record relating to a woman
  who consents to the donation of human fetal tissue before:
               (1)  the seventh anniversary of the date consent was
  obtained under Section 173.006; or
               (2)  if the woman was younger than 18 years of age on
  the date consent was obtained under Section 173.006, the later of:
                     (A)  the woman's 23rd birthday; or
                     (B)  the seventh anniversary of the date consent
  was obtained.
         Sec. 173.009.  ANNUAL REPORT. An authorized facility that
  donates human fetal tissue under this chapter shall submit an
  annual report to the department that includes for each donation:
               (1)  the specific type of fetal tissue donated; and
               (2)  the accredited public or private institution of
  higher education that received the donation.
         SECTION 8.  Section 245.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subdivisions (1) and (4-a) and adding
  Subdivision (4-b) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Abortion" means the act of using or prescribing
  an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device,
  or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a
  woman known to be pregnant [an act or procedure performed after
  pregnancy has been medically verified and with the intent to cause
  the termination of a pregnancy other than for the purpose of either
  the birth of a live fetus or removing a dead fetus]. The term does
  not include birth control devices or oral contraceptives. An act is
  not an abortion if the act is done with the intent to:
                     (A)  save the life or preserve the health of an
  unborn child;
                     (B)  remove a dead, unborn child whose death was
  caused by spontaneous abortion; or
                     (C)  remove an ectopic pregnancy.
               (4-a)  "Ectopic pregnancy" means the implantation of a
  fertilized egg or embryo outside of the uterus.
               (4-b)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
         SECTION 9.  Section 245.005(e), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  As a condition for renewal of a license, the licensee
  must submit to the department the annual license renewal fee and an
  annual report[, including the report required under Section
  245.011].
         SECTION 10.  The heading to Section 245.011, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 245.011.  PHYSICIAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; CRIMINAL
  PENALTY.
         SECTION 11.  Section 245.011, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e) and adding
  Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
         (a)  A physician who performs an abortion at an [Each]
  abortion facility must complete and submit a monthly [an annual]
  report to the department on each abortion [that is] performed by the
  physician at the abortion facility. The report must be submitted on
  a form provided by the department.
         (b)  The report may not identify by any means [the physician
  performing the abortion or] the patient.
         (d)  Except as provided by Section 245.023, all information
  and records held by the department under this chapter are
  confidential and are not open records for the purposes of Chapter
  552, Government Code. That information may not be released or made
  public on subpoena or otherwise, except that release may be made:
               (1)  for statistical purposes, but only if a person,
  patient, physician performing an abortion, or abortion facility is
  not identified;
               (2)  with the consent of each person, patient,
  physician, and abortion facility identified in the information
  released;
               (3)  to medical personnel, appropriate state agencies,
  or county and district courts to enforce this chapter; or
               (4)  to appropriate state licensing boards to enforce
  state licensing laws.
         (e)  A person commits an offense if the person violates
  Subsection (b), (c), or (d) [this section]. An offense under this
  subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
         (f)  Not later than the 15th day of each month, a physician
  shall submit to the department the report required by this section
  for each abortion performed by the physician at an abortion
  facility in the preceding calendar month.
         (g)  The department shall establish and maintain a secure
  electronic reporting system for the submission of the reports
  required by this section. The department shall adopt procedures to
  enforce this section and to ensure that only physicians who perform
  one or more abortions during the preceding calendar month are
  required to file the reports under this section for that month.
         SECTION 12.  Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Sections 245.0115 and 245.0116 to read as follows:
         Sec. 245.0115.  NOTIFICATION. Not later than the seventh
  day after the date the report required by Section 245.011 is due,
  the commissioner of state health services shall notify the Texas
  Medical Board of a violation of that section.
         Sec. 245.0116.  DEPARTMENT REPORT. (a)  The department
  shall publish on its Internet website a monthly report containing
  aggregate data of the information in the reports submitted under
  Section 245.011.
         (b)  The department's monthly report may not identify by any
  means an abortion facility, a physician performing the abortion, or
  a patient.
         SECTION 13.  Subtitle B, Title 8, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 697 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 697. DISPOSITION OF EMBRYONIC AND FETAL TISSUE REMAINS
         Sec. 697.001.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to
  express the state's profound respect for the life of the unborn by
  providing for a dignified disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue
  remains.
         Sec. 697.002.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
  reducing remains to bone fragments through direct flame, extreme
  heat, and evaporation.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (3)  "Embryonic and fetal tissue remains" means an
  embryo, a fetus, body parts, or organs from a pregnancy that
  terminates in the death of the embryo or fetus and for which the
  issuance of a fetal death certificate is not required by state law.
  The term does not include the umbilical cord, placenta, gestational
  sac, blood, or body fluids.
               (4)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (5)  "Incineration" means the process of burning
  remains in an incinerator.
               (6)  "Interment" means the disposition of remains by
  entombment, burial, or placement in a niche.
               (7)  "Steam disinfection" means the act of subjecting
  remains to steam under pressure to disinfect the remains.
         Sec. 697.003.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Embryonic and
  fetal tissue remains are not pathological waste under state law.
  Unless otherwise provided by this chapter, Chapters 711 and 716 of
  this code and Chapter 651, Occupations Code, do not apply to the
  disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue remains.
         Sec. 697.004.  DISPOSITION OF EMBRYONIC AND FETAL TISSUE
  REMAINS. (a)  Subject to Section 241.010, a health care facility
  in this state that provides health or medical care to a pregnant
  woman shall dispose of embryonic and fetal tissue remains that are
  passed or delivered at the facility by:
               (1)  interment;
               (2)  cremation;
               (3)  incineration followed by interment; or
               (4)  steam disinfection followed by interment.
         (b)  The ashes resulting from the cremation or incineration
  of embryonic and fetal tissue remains:
               (1)  may be interred or scattered in any manner as
  authorized by law for human remains; and
               (2)  may not be placed in a landfill.
         (c)  A health care facility responsible for disposing of
  embryonic and fetal tissue remains may coordinate with an entity in
  the registry established under Section 697.005 in an effort to
  offset the cost associated with burial or cremation of the
  embryonic and fetal tissue remains of an unborn child.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, the umbilical cord,
  placenta, gestational sac, blood, or body fluids from a pregnancy
  terminating in the death of the embryo or fetus for which the
  issuance of a fetal death certificate is not required by state law
  may be disposed of in the same manner as and with the embryonic and
  fetal tissue remains from that same pregnancy as authorized by this
  chapter.
         Sec. 697.005.  BURIAL OR CREMATION ASSISTANCE REGISTRY. The
  department shall:
               (1)  establish and maintain a registry of:
                     (A)  participating funeral homes and cemeteries
  willing to provide free common burial or low-cost private burial;
  and
                     (B)  private nonprofit organizations that
  register with the department to provide financial assistance for
  the costs associated with burial or cremation of the embryonic and
  fetal tissue remains of an unborn child; and
               (2)  make the registry information available on request
  to a physician, health care facility, or agent of a physician or
  health care facility.
         Sec. 697.006.  ETHICAL FETAL REMAINS GRANT PROGRAM. The
  department shall develop a grant program that uses private
  donations to provide financial assistance for the costs associated
  with disposing of embryonic and fetal tissue remains.
         Sec. 697.007.  SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE. The
  department may suspend or revoke the license of a health care
  facility that violates this chapter or a rule adopted under this
  chapter.
         Sec. 697.008.  CIVIL PENALTY. (a)  A person that violates
  this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter is liable for a
  civil penalty in an amount of $1,000 for each violation.
         (b)  The attorney general, at the request of the department,
  may sue to collect the civil penalty.  The attorney general may
  recover reasonable expenses incurred in collecting the civil
  penalty, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees,
  investigation costs, witness fees, and disposition expenses.
         Sec. 697.009.  RULES.  The executive commissioner shall
  adopt rules to implement this chapter.
         SECTION 14.  Section 164.052(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A physician or an applicant for a license to practice
  medicine commits a prohibited practice if that person:
               (1)  submits to the board a false or misleading
  statement, document, or certificate in an application for a
  license;
               (2)  presents to the board a license, certificate, or
  diploma that was illegally or fraudulently obtained;
               (3)  commits fraud or deception in taking or passing an
  examination;
               (4)  uses alcohol or drugs in an intemperate manner
  that, in the board's opinion, could endanger a patient's life;
               (5)  commits unprofessional or dishonorable conduct
  that is likely to deceive or defraud the public, as provided by
  Section 164.053, or injure the public;
               (6)  uses an advertising statement that is false,
  misleading, or deceptive;
               (7)  advertises professional superiority or the
  performance of professional service in a superior manner if that
  advertising is not readily subject to verification;
               (8)  purchases, sells, barters, or uses, or offers to
  purchase, sell, barter, or use, a medical degree, license,
  certificate, or diploma, or a transcript of a license, certificate,
  or diploma in or incident to an application to the board for a
  license to practice medicine;
               (9)  alters, with fraudulent intent, a medical license,
  certificate, or diploma, or a transcript of a medical license,
  certificate, or diploma;
               (10)  uses a medical license, certificate, or diploma,
  or a transcript of a medical license, certificate, or diploma that
  has been:
                     (A)  fraudulently purchased or issued;
                     (B)  counterfeited; or
                     (C)  materially altered;
               (11)  impersonates or acts as proxy for another person
  in an examination required by this subtitle for a medical license;
               (12)  engages in conduct that subverts or attempts to
  subvert an examination process required by this subtitle for a
  medical license;
               (13)  impersonates a physician or permits another to
  use the person's license or certificate to practice medicine in
  this state;
               (14)  directly or indirectly employs a person whose
  license to practice medicine has been suspended, canceled, or
  revoked;
               (15)  associates in the practice of medicine with a
  person:
                     (A)  whose license to practice medicine has been
  suspended, canceled, or revoked; or
                     (B)  who has been convicted of the unlawful
  practice of medicine in this state or elsewhere;
               (16)  performs or procures a criminal abortion, aids or
  abets in the procuring of a criminal abortion, attempts to perform
  or procure a criminal abortion, or attempts to aid or abet the
  performance or procurement of a criminal abortion;
               (17)  directly or indirectly aids or abets the practice
  of medicine by a person, partnership, association, or corporation
  that is not licensed to practice medicine by the board;
               (18)  performs an abortion on a woman who is pregnant
  with a viable unborn child during the third trimester of the
  pregnancy unless:
                     (A)  the abortion is necessary to prevent the
  death of the woman;
                     (B)  the viable unborn child has a severe,
  irreversible brain impairment; or
                     (C)  the woman is diagnosed with a significant
  likelihood of suffering imminent severe, irreversible brain damage
  or imminent severe, irreversible paralysis;
               (19)  performs an abortion on an unemancipated minor
  without the written consent of the child's parent, managing
  conservator, or legal guardian or without a court order, as
  provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004, Family Code, unless the
  abortion is necessary due to a medical emergency, as defined by
  Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code;
               (20)  otherwise performs an abortion on an
  unemancipated minor in violation of Chapter 33, Family Code; or
               (21)  performs or induces or attempts to perform or
  induce an abortion in violation of Subchapter C, F, or G, Chapter
  171, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 15.  Section 164.055(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The sanctions provided by Subsection (a) are in addition
  to any other grounds for refusal to admit persons to examination
  under this subtitle or to issue a license or renew a license to
  practice medicine under this subtitle.  The criminal penalties
  provided by Section 165.152 do not apply to a violation of Section
  170.002, Health and Safety Code, or Subchapter C, F, or G, Chapter
  171, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 16.  Section 48.02(a), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  In this section, "human ["Human] organ" means the human
  kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, eye, bone, skin, [fetal
  tissue,] or any other human organ or tissue, but does not include
  hair or blood, blood components (including plasma), blood
  derivatives, or blood reagents.  The term does not include human
  fetal tissue as defined by Section 48.03.
         SECTION 17.  Chapter 48, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 48.03 to read as follows:
         Sec. 48.03.  PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE AND SALE OF HUMAN FETAL
  TISSUE. (a)  In this section, "human fetal tissue" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 173.001, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  offers to buy, offers to sell, acquires, receives, sells, or
  otherwise transfers any human fetal tissue for economic benefit.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
         (d)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
  the actor:
               (1)  is an employee of or under contract with an
  accredited public or private institution of higher education; and
               (2)  acquires, receives, or transfers human fetal
  tissue solely for the purpose of fulfilling a donation authorized
  by Section 173.005, Health and Safety Code.
         (e)  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  human fetal tissue acquired, received, or
  transferred solely for diagnostic or pathological testing; 
               (2)  human fetal tissue acquired, received, or
  transferred solely for the purposes of a criminal investigation;
               (3)  human fetal tissue acquired, received, or
  transferred solely for the purpose of disposing of the tissue in
  accordance with state law or rules applicable to the disposition of
  human fetal tissue remains;
               (4)  human fetal tissue or human tissue acquired during
  pregnancy or at delivery of a child, provided the tissue is acquired
  by an accredited public or private institution of higher education
  for use in research approved by an institutional review board or
  another appropriate board, committee, or body charged with
  oversight applicable to the research; or
               (5)  cell lines derived from human fetal tissue or
  human tissue existing on September 1, 2017, that are used by an
  accredited public or private institution of higher education in
  research approved by an institutional review board or another
  appropriate board, committee, or body charged with oversight
  applicable to the research.
         (f)  With the consent of the appropriate local county or
  district attorney, the attorney general has concurrent
  jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor to prosecute an
  offense under this section.
         SECTION 18.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2017, the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  shall adopt any rules necessary to implement Section 245.011,
  Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and Chapters 173 and
  697, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  The Department of State Health Services shall:
               (1)  as soon as practicable after the effective date of
  this Act, develop the electronic reporting system required by
  Section 245.011, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act;
               (2)  not later than October 1, 2017, establish the
  grant program required by Section 697.006, Health and Safety Code,
  as added by this Act;
               (3)  not later than December 1, 2017, prescribe the
  standard consent form required by Section 173.006, Health and
  Safety Code, as added by this Act; and
               (4)  not later than February 1, 2018, begin to award
  grants under the grant program described by Subdivision (2) of this
  subsection.
         SECTION 19.  (a)  Subchapters F and G, Chapter 171, Health
  and Safety Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an abortion
  performed on or after the effective date of this Act. An abortion
  performed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
  that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         (b)  Sections 173.003, 173.004, 173.005, and 173.006, Health
  and Safety Code, as added by this Act, apply to a donation of human
  fetal tissue that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act,
  regardless of whether the human fetal tissue was acquired before,
  on, or after that date.
         (c)  An authorized facility is not required to make an
  initial annual report under Section 173.009, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act, before January 1, 2019.
         (d)  Chapter 697, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to the disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue
  remains that occurs on or after February 1, 2018.  The disposition
  of embryonic and fetal tissue remains that occurs before February
  1, 2018, is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         (e)  Chapter 48, Penal Code, as amended by this Act, applies
  only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this subsection, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 20.  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, are 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 21.  (a)  If some or all of the provisions of this
  Act are ever temporarily or permanently restrained or enjoined by
  judicial order, all other provisions of Texas law regulating or
  restricting abortion shall be enforced as though the restrained or
  enjoined provisions had not been adopted; provided, however, that
  whenever the temporary or permanent restraining order or injunction
  is stayed or dissolved, or otherwise ceases to have effect, the
  provisions shall have full force and effect.
         (b)  Mindful of Leavitt v. Jane L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in
  which in the context of determining the severability of a state
  statute regulating abortion the United States Supreme Court held
  that an explicit statement of legislative intent is controlling, 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, are 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, the remaining applications of that provision to all other
  persons and circumstances shall be severed and may not be affected.
  All constitutionally valid applications of this Act shall be
  severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid,
  leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the
  legislature's intent and priority that the valid applications be
  allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision
  of this Act to impose an undue burden in a large or substantial
  fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an
  undue burden shall be severed from the remaining provisions and
  shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the legislature
  had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or
  circumstances for which the statute's application does not present
  an undue burden. The legislature further declares that it would
  have passed this Act, and each provision, section, subsection,
  sentence, clause, phrase, or word, and all constitutional
  applications of this Act, irrespective of the fact that any
  provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word,
  or applications of this Act, were to be declared unconstitutional
  or to represent an undue burden.
         (c)  If any provision of this Act is found by any court to be
  unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision
  that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be
  severed and remain in force.
         SECTION 22.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 8 passed the Senate on
  March 15, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 26, 2017, by the
  following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 8 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 93,
  Nays 45, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor