|  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | AN ACT | 
      
        |  | relating to notice of and consent to an abortion for a minor and | 
      
        |  | associated requirements; amending provisions subject to a criminal | 
      
        |  | penalty. | 
      
        |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
        |  | SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 33, Family Code, is | 
      
        |  | amended to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | CHAPTER 33.  NOTICE OF AND CONSENT TO ABORTION | 
      
        |  | SECTION 2.  Section 33.001, Family Code, is amended by | 
      
        |  | adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (3-a)  "Medical emergency" has the meaning assigned by | 
      
        |  | Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 3.  Section 33.002, Family Code, is amended by | 
      
        |  | amending Subsections (a), (e), (f), (h), and (i) and adding | 
      
        |  | Subsections (j), (k), and (l) to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (a)  A physician may not perform an abortion on a pregnant | 
      
        |  | unemancipated minor unless: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the physician performing the abortion gives at | 
      
        |  | least 48 hours actual notice, in person or by telephone, of the | 
      
        |  | physician's intent to perform the abortion to: | 
      
        |  | (A)  a parent of the minor, if the minor has no | 
      
        |  | managing conservator or guardian; or | 
      
        |  | (B)  a court-appointed managing conservator or | 
      
        |  | guardian; | 
      
        |  | (2)  the physician who is to perform the abortion | 
      
        |  | receives an order issued by a court under Section 33.003 or 33.004 | 
      
        |  | [ judge of a court having probate jurisdiction, the judge of a county  | 
      
        |  | court at law, the judge of a district court, including a family  | 
      
        |  | district court, or a court of appellate jurisdiction issues an  | 
      
        |  | order] authorizing the minor to consent to the abortion as provided | 
      
        |  | by Section 33.003 or 33.004; or | 
      
        |  | (3)  [ a probate court, county court at law, district  | 
      
        |  | court, including a family district court, or court of appeals, by  | 
      
        |  | its inaction, constructively authorizes the minor to consent to the  | 
      
        |  | abortion as provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004; or | 
      
        |  | [ (4)]  the physician who is to perform [performing] the | 
      
        |  | abortion: | 
      
        |  | (A)  concludes that a medical emergency exists [ on  | 
      
        |  | the basis of the physician's good faith clinical judgment, a  | 
      
        |  | condition exists that complicates the medical condition of the  | 
      
        |  | pregnant minor and necessitates the immediate abortion of her  | 
      
        |  | pregnancy to avert her death or to avoid a serious risk of  | 
      
        |  | substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily  | 
      
        |  | function]; [and] | 
      
        |  | (B)  certifies in writing to the [ Texas] | 
      
        |  | Department of State Health Services and in the patient's medical | 
      
        |  | record the medical indications supporting the physician's judgment | 
      
        |  | that a medical emergency exists; and | 
      
        |  | (C)  provides the notice required by Section | 
      
        |  | 33.0022 [ the circumstances described by Paragraph (A) exist]. | 
      
        |  | (e)  The  [ Texas] Department of State Health Services shall | 
      
        |  | prepare a form to be used for making the certification required by | 
      
        |  | Subsection (a)(3)(B) [ (a)(4)]. | 
      
        |  | (f)  A certification required by Subsection (a)(3)(B) | 
      
        |  | [ (a)(4)] is confidential and privileged and is not subject to | 
      
        |  | disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or to discovery, | 
      
        |  | subpoena, or other legal process.  Personal or identifying | 
      
        |  | information about the minor, including her name, address, or social | 
      
        |  | security number, may not be included in a certification under | 
      
        |  | Subsection (a)(3)(B) [ (a)(4)].  The physician must keep the medical | 
      
        |  | records on the minor in compliance with the rules adopted by the | 
      
        |  | Texas [ State Board of] Medical Board [Examiners] under Section | 
      
        |  | 153.003, Occupations Code. | 
      
        |  | (h)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that | 
      
        |  | the minor falsely represented her age or identity to the physician | 
      
        |  | to be at least 18 years of age by displaying an apparently valid | 
      
        |  | proof of identity and age described by Subsection (k) [ governmental  | 
      
        |  | record of identification] such that a reasonable person under | 
      
        |  | similar circumstances would have relied on the representation.  The | 
      
        |  | defense does not apply if the physician is shown to have had | 
      
        |  | independent knowledge of the minor's actual age or identity or | 
      
        |  | failed to use due diligence in determining the minor's age or | 
      
        |  | identity.  In this subsection, "defense" has the meaning and | 
      
        |  | application assigned by Section 2.03, Penal Code. | 
      
        |  | (i)  In relation to the trial of an offense under this | 
      
        |  | section in which the conduct charged involves a conclusion made by | 
      
        |  | the physician under Subsection (a)(3)(A) [ (a)(4)], the defendant | 
      
        |  | may seek a hearing before the Texas [ State Board of] Medical Board | 
      
        |  | [ Examiners] on whether the physician's conduct was necessary | 
      
        |  | because of a medical emergency [ to avert the death of the minor or  | 
      
        |  | to avoid a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment  | 
      
        |  | of a major bodily function].  The findings of the Texas [State Board  | 
      
        |  | of] Medical Board [Examiners] under this subsection are admissible | 
      
        |  | on that issue in the trial of the defendant.  Notwithstanding any | 
      
        |  | other reason for a continuance provided under the Code of Criminal | 
      
        |  | Procedure or other law, on motion of the defendant, the court shall | 
      
        |  | delay the beginning of the trial for not more than 30 days to permit | 
      
        |  | a hearing under this subsection to take place. | 
      
        |  | (j)  A physician shall use due diligence to determine that | 
      
        |  | any woman on which the physician performs an abortion who claims to | 
      
        |  | have reached the age of majority or to have had the disabilities of | 
      
        |  | minority removed has, in fact, reached the age of majority or has | 
      
        |  | had the disabilities of minority removed. | 
      
        |  | (k)  For the purposes of this section, "due diligence" | 
      
        |  | includes requesting proof of identity and age described by Section | 
      
        |  | 2.005(b) or a copy of the court order removing disabilities of | 
      
        |  | minority. | 
      
        |  | (l)  If proof of identity and age cannot be provided, the | 
      
        |  | physician shall provide information on how to obtain proof of | 
      
        |  | identity and age. If the woman is subsequently unable to obtain | 
      
        |  | proof of identity and age and the physician chooses to perform the | 
      
        |  | abortion, the physician shall document that proof of identity and | 
      
        |  | age was not obtained and report to the Department of State Health | 
      
        |  | Services that proof of identity and age was not obtained for the | 
      
        |  | woman on whom the abortion was performed.  The department shall | 
      
        |  | report annually to the legislature regarding the number of | 
      
        |  | abortions performed without proof of identity and age. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 4.  Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding | 
      
        |  | Sections 33.0021 and 33.0022 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.0021.  CONSENT REQUIRED.  A physician may not | 
      
        |  | perform an abortion in violation of Section 164.052(a)(19), | 
      
        |  | Occupations Code. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.0022.  MEDICAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION; AFFIDAVIT | 
      
        |  | FOR MEDICAL RECORD.  (a)  If the physician who is to perform the | 
      
        |  | abortion concludes under Section 33.002(a)(3)(A) that a medical | 
      
        |  | emergency exists and that there is insufficient time to provide the | 
      
        |  | notice required by Section 33.002 or obtain the consent required by | 
      
        |  | Section 33.0021, the physician shall make a reasonable effort to | 
      
        |  | inform, in person or by telephone, the parent, managing | 
      
        |  | conservator, or guardian of the unemancipated minor within 24 hours | 
      
        |  | after the time a medical emergency abortion is performed on the | 
      
        |  | minor of: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the performance of the abortion; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  the basis for the physician's determination that a | 
      
        |  | medical emergency existed that required the performance of a | 
      
        |  | medical emergency abortion without fulfilling the requirements of | 
      
        |  | Section 33.002 or 33.0021. | 
      
        |  | (b)  A physician who performs an abortion as described by | 
      
        |  | Subsection (a), not later than 48 hours after the abortion is | 
      
        |  | performed, shall send a written notice that a medical emergency | 
      
        |  | occurred and the ability of the parent, managing conservator, or | 
      
        |  | guardian to contact the physician for more information and medical | 
      
        |  | records, to the last known address of the parent, managing | 
      
        |  | conservator, or guardian by certified mail, restricted delivery, | 
      
        |  | return receipt requested.  The physician may rely on last known | 
      
        |  | address information if a reasonable and prudent person, under | 
      
        |  | similar circumstances, would rely on the information as sufficient | 
      
        |  | evidence that the parent, managing conservator, or guardian resides | 
      
        |  | at that address.  The physician shall keep in the minor's medical | 
      
        |  | record: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the return receipt from the written notice; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  if the notice was returned as undeliverable, the | 
      
        |  | notice. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A physician who performs an abortion on an unemancipated | 
      
        |  | minor during a medical emergency as described by Subsection (a) | 
      
        |  | shall execute for inclusion in the medical record of the minor an | 
      
        |  | affidavit that explains the specific medical emergency that | 
      
        |  | necessitated the immediate abortion. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 5.  Section 33.003, Family Code, is amended by | 
      
        |  | amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), | 
      
        |  | and (l) and adding Subsections (g-1), (i-1), (i-2), (i-3), (l-1), | 
      
        |  | (l-2), (o), (p), (q), and (r) to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (a)  A pregnant minor [ who wishes to have an abortion without  | 
      
        |  | notification to one of her parents, her managing conservator, or  | 
      
        |  | her guardian] may file an application for a court order authorizing | 
      
        |  | the minor to consent to the performance of an abortion without | 
      
        |  | notification to and consent [ either] of [her parents or] a parent, | 
      
        |  | managing conservator, or guardian. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The application must [ may] be filed in: | 
      
        |  | (1)  a [ any] county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in the minor's county of residence; | 
      
        |  | (2)  if the minor's parent, managing conservator, or | 
      
        |  | guardian is a presiding judge of a court described by Subdivision | 
      
        |  | (1): | 
      
        |  | (A)  a county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in a contiguous county; or | 
      
        |  | (B)  a county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in the county where the minor intends to obtain the abortion; | 
      
        |  | (3)  if the minor's county of residence has a population | 
      
        |  | of less than 10,000: | 
      
        |  | (A)  a court described by Subdivision (1); | 
      
        |  | (B)  a county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in a contiguous county; or | 
      
        |  | (C)  a county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in the county in which the facility at which the minor intends to | 
      
        |  | obtain the abortion is located; or | 
      
        |  | (4)  a county court at law, court having probate | 
      
        |  | jurisdiction, or district court, including a family district court, | 
      
        |  | in the county in which the facility at which the minor intends to | 
      
        |  | obtain the abortion is located, if the minor is not a resident of | 
      
        |  | this state. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The application must: | 
      
        |  | (1)  be made under oath; | 
      
        |  | (2)  [ and] include: | 
      
        |  | (A) [ (1)]  a statement that the minor is pregnant; | 
      
        |  | (B) [ (2)]  a statement that the minor is | 
      
        |  | unmarried, is under 18 years of age, and has not had her | 
      
        |  | disabilities removed under Chapter 31; | 
      
        |  | (C) [ (3)]  a statement that the minor wishes to | 
      
        |  | have an abortion without the notification to and consent of [ either  | 
      
        |  | of her parents or] a parent, managing conservator, or guardian; | 
      
        |  | [ and] | 
      
        |  | (D) [ (4)]  a statement as to whether the minor has | 
      
        |  | retained an attorney and, if she has retained an attorney, the name, | 
      
        |  | address, and telephone number of her attorney; and | 
      
        |  | (E)  a statement about the minor's current | 
      
        |  | residence, including the minor's physical address, mailing | 
      
        |  | address, and telephone number; and | 
      
        |  | (3)  be accompanied by the sworn statement of the | 
      
        |  | minor's attorney under Subsection (r), if the minor has retained an | 
      
        |  | attorney to assist the minor with filing the application under this | 
      
        |  | section. | 
      
        |  | (e)  The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the | 
      
        |  | minor who shall represent the best interest of the minor.  If the | 
      
        |  | minor has not retained an attorney, the court shall appoint an | 
      
        |  | attorney to represent the minor.  The [ If the] guardian ad litem may | 
      
        |  | not also [ is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this  | 
      
        |  | state, the court may appoint the guardian ad litem to] serve as the | 
      
        |  | minor's attorney ad litem. | 
      
        |  | (g)  The court shall fix a time for a hearing on an | 
      
        |  | application filed under Subsection (a) and shall keep a record of | 
      
        |  | all testimony and other oral proceedings in the action[ .  The court  | 
      
        |  | shall enter judgment on the application immediately after the  | 
      
        |  | hearing is concluded]. | 
      
        |  | (g-1)  The pregnant minor must appear before the court in | 
      
        |  | person and may not appear using videoconferencing, telephone | 
      
        |  | conferencing, or other remote electronic means. | 
      
        |  | (h)  The court shall rule on an application submitted under | 
      
        |  | this section and shall issue written findings of fact and | 
      
        |  | conclusions of law not later than 5 p.m. on the fifth [ second] | 
      
        |  | business day after the date the application is filed with the court. | 
      
        |  | On request by the minor, the court shall grant an extension of the | 
      
        |  | period specified by this subsection.  If a request for an extension | 
      
        |  | is made, the court shall rule on an application and shall issue | 
      
        |  | written findings of fact and conclusions of law not later than 5 | 
      
        |  | p.m. on the fifth [ second] business day after the date the minor | 
      
        |  | states she is ready to proceed to hearing.  [ If the court fails to  | 
      
        |  | rule on the application and issue written findings of fact and  | 
      
        |  | conclusions of law within the period specified by this subsection,  | 
      
        |  | the application is deemed to be granted and the physician may  | 
      
        |  | perform the abortion as if the court had issued an order authorizing  | 
      
        |  | the minor to consent to the performance of the abortion without  | 
      
        |  | notification under Section 33.002.]  Proceedings under this section | 
      
        |  | shall be given precedence over other pending matters to the extent | 
      
        |  | necessary to assure that the court reaches a decision promptly, | 
      
        |  | regardless of whether the minor is granted an extension under this | 
      
        |  | subsection. | 
      
        |  | (i)  The court shall determine by clear and convincing [ a  | 
      
        |  | preponderance of the] evidence, as described by Section 101.007, | 
      
        |  | whether: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the minor is mature and sufficiently well informed | 
      
        |  | to make the decision to have an abortion performed without | 
      
        |  | notification to or consent of a parent, [ either of her parents or a] | 
      
        |  | managing conservator, or guardian; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  the [ , whether] notification and attempt to obtain | 
      
        |  | consent would not be in the best interest of the minor[ , or whether  | 
      
        |  | notification may lead to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of  | 
      
        |  | the minor]. | 
      
        |  | (i-1)  In determining whether the minor meets the | 
      
        |  | requirements of Subsection (i)(1), the court shall consider the | 
      
        |  | experience, perspective, and judgment of the minor. The court may: | 
      
        |  | (1)  consider all relevant factors, including: | 
      
        |  | (A)  the minor's age; | 
      
        |  | (B)  the minor's life experiences, such as | 
      
        |  | working, traveling independently, or managing her own financial | 
      
        |  | affairs; and | 
      
        |  | (C)  steps taken by the minor to explore her | 
      
        |  | options and the consequences of those options; | 
      
        |  | (2)  inquire as to the minor's reasons for seeking an | 
      
        |  | abortion; | 
      
        |  | (3)  consider the degree to which the minor is informed | 
      
        |  | about the state-published informational materials described by | 
      
        |  | Chapter 171, Health and Safety Code; and | 
      
        |  | (4)  require the minor to be evaluated by a licensed | 
      
        |  | mental health counselor, who shall return the evaluation to the | 
      
        |  | court for review within three business days. | 
      
        |  | (i-2)  In determining whether the notification and the | 
      
        |  | attempt to obtain consent would not be in the best interest of the | 
      
        |  | minor, the court may inquire as to: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the minor's reasons for not wanting to notify and | 
      
        |  | obtain consent from a parent, managing conservator, or guardian; | 
      
        |  | (2)  whether notification or the attempt to obtain | 
      
        |  | consent may lead to physical or sexual abuse; | 
      
        |  | (3)  whether the pregnancy was the result of sexual | 
      
        |  | abuse by a parent, managing conservator, or guardian; and | 
      
        |  | (4)  any history of physical or sexual abuse from a | 
      
        |  | parent, managing conservator, or guardian. | 
      
        |  | (i-3)  The [ If the court finds that the minor is mature and  | 
      
        |  | sufficiently well informed, that notification would not be in the  | 
      
        |  | minor's best interest, or that notification may lead to physical,  | 
      
        |  | sexual, or emotional abuse of the minor, the] court shall enter an | 
      
        |  | order authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of the | 
      
        |  | abortion without notification to and consent [ either] of [her  | 
      
        |  | parents or] a parent, managing conservator, or guardian and shall | 
      
        |  | execute the required forms if the court finds by clear and | 
      
        |  | convincing evidence, as defined by Section 101.007, that: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the minor is mature and sufficiently well informed | 
      
        |  | to make the decision to have an abortion performed without | 
      
        |  | notification to or consent of a parent, managing conservator, or | 
      
        |  | guardian; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  the notification and attempt to obtain consent | 
      
        |  | would not be in the best interest of the minor. | 
      
        |  | (j)  If the court finds that the minor does not meet the | 
      
        |  | requirements of Subsection (i-3) [ (i)], the court may not authorize | 
      
        |  | the minor to consent to an abortion without the notification | 
      
        |  | authorized under Section 33.002(a)(1) and consent under Section | 
      
        |  | 33.0021. | 
      
        |  | (k)  The court may not notify a parent, managing conservator, | 
      
        |  | or guardian that the minor is pregnant or that the minor wants to | 
      
        |  | have an abortion.  The court proceedings shall be conducted in a | 
      
        |  | manner that protects the confidentiality of the identity | 
      
        |  | [ anonymity] of the minor.  The application and all other court | 
      
        |  | documents pertaining to the proceedings are confidential and | 
      
        |  | privileged and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, | 
      
        |  | Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process. | 
      
        |  | Confidential records pertaining to a minor under this subsection | 
      
        |  | may be disclosed to the minor  [ The minor may file the application  | 
      
        |  | using a pseudonym or using only her initials]. | 
      
        |  | (l)  An order of the court issued under this section is | 
      
        |  | confidential and privileged and is not subject to disclosure under | 
      
        |  | Chapter 552, Government Code, or discovery, subpoena, or other | 
      
        |  | legal process.  The order may not be released to any person but the | 
      
        |  | pregnant minor, the pregnant minor's guardian ad litem, the | 
      
        |  | pregnant minor's attorney, the physician who is to perform the | 
      
        |  | abortion, another person designated to receive the order by the | 
      
        |  | minor, or a governmental agency or attorney in a criminal or | 
      
        |  | administrative action seeking to assert or protect the interest of | 
      
        |  | the minor.  The supreme court may adopt rules to permit confidential | 
      
        |  | docketing of an application under this section. | 
      
        |  | (l-1)  The clerk of the court, at intervals prescribed by the | 
      
        |  | Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System, shall | 
      
        |  | submit a report to the office that includes, for each case filed | 
      
        |  | under this section: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the case number and style; | 
      
        |  | (2)  the applicant's county of residence; | 
      
        |  | (3)  the court of appeals district in which the | 
      
        |  | proceeding occurred; | 
      
        |  | (4)  the date of filing; | 
      
        |  | (5)  the date of disposition; and | 
      
        |  | (6)  the disposition of the case. | 
      
        |  | (l-2)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas | 
      
        |  | Judicial System shall annually compile and publish a report | 
      
        |  | aggregating the data received under Subsections (l-1)(3) and (6). | 
      
        |  | A report submitted under Subsection (l-1) is confidential and | 
      
        |  | privileged and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, | 
      
        |  | Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process. | 
      
        |  | A report under this subsection must protect the confidentiality of: | 
      
        |  | (1)  the identity of all minors and judges who are the | 
      
        |  | subject of the report; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  the information described by Subsection (l-1)(1). | 
      
        |  | (o)  A minor who has filed an application under this section | 
      
        |  | may not withdraw or otherwise non-suit her application without the | 
      
        |  | permission of the court. | 
      
        |  | (p)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (q), a minor | 
      
        |  | who has filed an application and has obtained a determination by the | 
      
        |  | court as described by Subsection (i) may not initiate a new | 
      
        |  | application proceeding and the prior proceeding is res judicata of | 
      
        |  | the issue relating to the determination of whether the minor may or | 
      
        |  | may not be authorized to consent to the performance of an abortion | 
      
        |  | without notification to and consent of a parent, managing | 
      
        |  | conservator, or guardian. | 
      
        |  | (q)  A minor whose application is denied may subsequently | 
      
        |  | submit an application to the court that denied the application if | 
      
        |  | the minor shows that there has been a material change in | 
      
        |  | circumstances since the time the court denied the application. | 
      
        |  | (r)  An attorney retained by the minor to assist her in | 
      
        |  | filing an application under this section shall fully inform himself | 
      
        |  | or herself of the minor's prior application history, including the | 
      
        |  | representations made by the minor in the application regarding her | 
      
        |  | address, proper venue in the county in which the application is | 
      
        |  | filed, and whether a prior application has been filed and | 
      
        |  | initiated.  If an attorney assists the minor in the application | 
      
        |  | process in any way, with or without payment, the attorney | 
      
        |  | representing the minor must attest to the truth of the minor's | 
      
        |  | claims regarding the venue and prior applications in a sworn | 
      
        |  | statement. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 6.  Section 33.004, Family Code, is amended by | 
      
        |  | amending Subsections (b) and (f) and adding Subsection (c-1) to | 
      
        |  | read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (b)  The court of appeals shall rule on an appeal under this | 
      
        |  | section not later than 5 p.m. on the fifth [ second] business day | 
      
        |  | after the date the notice of appeal is filed with the court that | 
      
        |  | denied the application.  On request by the minor, the court shall | 
      
        |  | grant an extension of the period specified by this subsection.  If a | 
      
        |  | request for an extension is made, the court shall rule on the appeal | 
      
        |  | not later than 5 p.m. on the fifth [ second] business day after the | 
      
        |  | date the minor states she is ready to proceed.  [ If the court of  | 
      
        |  | appeals fails to rule on the appeal within the period specified by  | 
      
        |  | this subsection, the appeal is deemed to be granted and the  | 
      
        |  | physician may perform the abortion as if the court had issued an  | 
      
        |  | order authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of the  | 
      
        |  | abortion without notification under Section 33.002.]  Proceedings | 
      
        |  | under this section shall be given precedence over other pending | 
      
        |  | matters to the extent necessary to assure that the court reaches a | 
      
        |  | decision promptly, regardless of whether the minor is granted an | 
      
        |  | extension under this subsection. | 
      
        |  | (c-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), the court of appeals | 
      
        |  | may publish an opinion relating to a ruling under this section if | 
      
        |  | the opinion is written in a way to preserve the confidentiality of | 
      
        |  | the identity of the pregnant minor. | 
      
        |  | (f)  An expedited confidential appeal shall be available to | 
      
        |  | any pregnant minor to whom a court of appeals denies an application | 
      
        |  | to authorize [ order authorizing] the minor to consent to the | 
      
        |  | performance of an abortion without notification to or consent of | 
      
        |  | [ either of her parents or] a parent, managing conservator, or | 
      
        |  | guardian. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 7.  Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding | 
      
        |  | Section 33.0065 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.0065.  RECORDS.  The clerk of the court shall retain | 
      
        |  | the records for each case before the court under this chapter in | 
      
        |  | accordance with rules for civil cases and grant access to the | 
      
        |  | records to the minor who is the subject of the proceeding. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 8.  Section 33.008, Family Code, is amended to read | 
      
        |  | as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.008.  PHYSICIAN'S DUTY TO REPORT ABUSE OF A MINOR; | 
      
        |  | INVESTIGATION AND ASSISTANCE.  (a)  If a minor claims to have been | 
      
        |  | physically or sexually abused or a [ A] physician or physician's | 
      
        |  | agent [ who] has reason to believe that a minor has been [or may be] | 
      
        |  | physically or sexually abused [ by a person responsible for the  | 
      
        |  | minor's care, custody, or welfare, as that term is defined by  | 
      
        |  | Section 261.001], the physician or physician's agent shall | 
      
        |  | immediately report the suspected abuse and the name of the abuser to | 
      
        |  | the Department of Family and Protective Services and to a local law | 
      
        |  | enforcement agency and shall refer the minor to the department for | 
      
        |  | services or intervention that may be in the best interest of the | 
      
        |  | minor.  The local law enforcement agency shall respond and shall | 
      
        |  | write a report within 24 hours of being notified of the alleged | 
      
        |  | abuse.  A report shall be made regardless of whether the local law | 
      
        |  | enforcement agency knows or suspects that a report about the abuse | 
      
        |  | may have previously been made. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The appropriate local law enforcement agency and the | 
      
        |  | Department of Family and Protective Services shall investigate | 
      
        |  | suspected abuse reported under this section and, if warranted | 
      
        |  | [ appropriate], shall refer the case to the appropriate prosecuting | 
      
        |  | authority [ assist the minor in making an application with a court  | 
      
        |  | under Section 33.003]. | 
      
        |  | (c)  When the local law enforcement agency responds to the | 
      
        |  | report of physical or sexual abuse as required by Subsection (a), a | 
      
        |  | law enforcement officer or appropriate agent from the Department of | 
      
        |  | Family and Protective Services may take emergency possession of the | 
      
        |  | minor without a court order to protect the health and safety of the | 
      
        |  | minor as described by Chapter 262. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 9.  Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding | 
      
        |  | Section 33.0085 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.0085.  DUTY OF JUDGE OR JUSTICE TO REPORT ABUSE OF | 
      
        |  | MINOR.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, a judge or justice who, | 
      
        |  | as a result of court proceedings conducted under Section 33.003 or | 
      
        |  | 33.004, has reason to believe that a minor has been or may be | 
      
        |  | physically or sexually abused shall: | 
      
        |  | (1)  immediately report the suspected abuse and the | 
      
        |  | name of the abuser to the Department of Family and Protective | 
      
        |  | Services and to a local law enforcement agency; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  refer the minor to the department for services or | 
      
        |  | intervention that may be in the best interest of the minor. | 
      
        |  | (b)  The appropriate local law enforcement agency and the | 
      
        |  | Department of Family and Protective Services shall investigate | 
      
        |  | suspected abuse reported under this section and, if warranted, | 
      
        |  | shall refer the case to the appropriate prosecuting authority. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 10.  Section 33.010, Family Code, is amended to read | 
      
        |  | as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.010.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Notwithstanding any other | 
      
        |  | law, information obtained by the Department of Family and | 
      
        |  | Protective Services or another entity under Section 33.008, | 
      
        |  | 33.0085, or 33.009 is confidential except to the extent necessary | 
      
        |  | to prove a violation of Section 21.02, 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, | 
      
        |  | Penal Code. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 11.  Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding | 
      
        |  | Sections 33.012, 33.013, and 33.014 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.012.  CIVIL PENALTY.  (a)  A person who is found to | 
      
        |  | have intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with gross | 
      
        |  | negligence violated this chapter is liable to this state for a civil | 
      
        |  | penalty of not less than $2,500 and not more than $10,000. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Each performance or attempted performance of an | 
      
        |  | abortion in violation of this chapter is a separate violation. | 
      
        |  | (c)  A civil penalty may not be assessed against: | 
      
        |  | (1)  a minor on whom an abortion is performed or | 
      
        |  | attempted; or | 
      
        |  | (2)  a judge or justice hearing a court proceeding | 
      
        |  | conducted under Section 33.003 or 33.004. | 
      
        |  | (d)  It is not a defense to an action brought under this | 
      
        |  | section that the minor gave informed and voluntary consent. | 
      
        |  | (e)  The attorney general shall bring an action to collect a | 
      
        |  | penalty under this section. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.013.  CAPACITY TO CONSENT.  An unemancipated minor | 
      
        |  | does not have the capacity to consent to any action that violates | 
      
        |  | this chapter. | 
      
        |  | Sec. 33.014.  ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ENFORCE.  The attorney | 
      
        |  | general shall enforce this chapter. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 12. | 
      
        |  | Section 245.006(a), Health and Safety Code, is | 
      
        |  | amended to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (a)  The department shall inspect an abortion facility at | 
      
        |  | random, unannounced, and reasonable times as necessary to ensure | 
      
        |  | compliance with this chapter, [ and] Subchapter B, Chapter 171, and | 
      
        |  | Chapter 33, Family Code. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 13.  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 [ ,  | 
      
        |  | authorizing the minor to consent to the abortion, unless the  | 
      
        |  | physician concludes that on the basis of the physician's good faith  | 
      
        |  | clinical judgment, a condition exists that complicates the medical  | 
      
        |  | condition of the pregnant minor and necessitates the immediate  | 
      
        |  | abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or to avoid a serious  | 
      
        |  | risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function and that  | 
      
        |  | there is insufficient time to obtain the consent of the child's  | 
      
        |  | parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian]; or | 
      
        |  | (21) [ (20)]  performs or induces or attempts to perform | 
      
        |  | or induce an abortion in violation of Subchapter C, Chapter 171, | 
      
        |  | Health and Safety Code. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 14.  (a)  Section 33.002, Family 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 section, an offense | 
      
        |  | was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element | 
      
        |  | of the offense occurred before that date. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Sections 33.003 and 33.004, Family Code, as amended by | 
      
        |  | this Act, apply only to an application filed on or after the | 
      
        |  | effective date of this Act.  An application filed before the | 
      
        |  | effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the | 
      
        |  | date the application was filed, and the former law is continued in | 
      
        |  | effect for that purpose. | 
      
        |  | (c)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial | 
      
        |  | System is not required to publish the initial report under Section | 
      
        |  | 33.003(l-2), Family Code, as added by this Act, before January 1, | 
      
        |  | 2017. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 15.  Section 33.012, Family Code, as added by this | 
      
        |  | Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the | 
      
        |  | effective date of this Act.  A cause of action that accrues before | 
      
        |  | the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect | 
      
        |  | immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect | 
      
        |  | for that purpose. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 16.  Every provision 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 or group of persons or circumstances is found by a court to | 
      
        |  | be invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of the | 
      
        |  | Act's provisions to all other persons and circumstances 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 invalid in a large or substantial fraction of relevant | 
      
        |  | cases, the remaining valid applications shall be severed and | 
      
        |  | allowed to remain in force. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 17.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016. | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | I certify that H.B. No. 3994 was passed by the House on May | 
      
        |  | 14, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 93, Nays 46, 2 present, not | 
      
        |  | voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | 
      
        |  | No. 3994 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 102, Nays 43, | 
      
        |  | 2 present, not voting. | 
      
        |  |  | 
      
        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Chief Clerk of the House | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  | I certify that H.B. No. 3994 was passed by the Senate, with | 
      
        |  | amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays | 
      
        |  | 10. | 
      
        |  |  | 
      
        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Secretary of the Senate | 
      
        |  | APPROVED: __________________ | 
      
        |  | Date | 
      
        |  |  | 
      
        |  | __________________ | 
      
        |  | Governor |