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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting abortion except when medically necessary or |
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when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 170, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 170. ABORTION PROHIBITED [ACTS REGARDING ABORTION] |
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SECTION 2. Section 170.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 170.002. ABORTION PROHIBITED [ACTS]; EXEMPTION. (a) |
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Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not |
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intentionally or knowingly perform an abortion on a woman who is |
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pregnant [with a viable unborn child during the third trimester of
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the pregnancy]. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a person from |
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performing an abortion if at the time of the abortion the person is |
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a physician and concludes in good faith [according to the
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physician's best medical judgment] that: |
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(1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest based |
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on a police report or other evidence the physician reasonably |
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determines is reliable; or [fetus is not a viable fetus and the
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pregnancy is not in the third trimester;] |
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(2) the abortion, according to the physician's best |
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medical judgment, is necessary to prevent the death or a |
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substantial risk of serious impairment to the physical [or mental] |
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health of the woman[; or
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[(3)
the fetus has a severe and irreversible
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abnormality, identified by reliable diagnostic procedures]. |
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(c) A physician who performs an abortion [that, according to
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the physician's best medical judgment at the time of the abortion,
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is to abort a viable unborn child during the third trimester of the
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pregnancy] shall certify in writing to the department, on a form |
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prescribed by the department, the facts or medical indications |
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supporting the physician's judgment that the abortion was |
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authorized by Subsection (b) [(b)(2) or (3)]. The certification |
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must be made not later than the 30th day after the date the abortion |
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was performed. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 33.0011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0011. PROHIBITED ABORTION NOT AUTHORIZED. This |
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chapter may not be construed to authorize the performance of an |
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abortion prohibited under Chapter 170, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 33.002(a) and (d), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A physician may not perform an abortion on a pregnant |
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unemancipated minor unless the abortion is authorized under Section |
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170.002(b), Health and Safety Code, and: |
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(1) the physician performing the abortion gives at |
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least 48 hours actual notice, in person or by telephone, of the |
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physician's intent to perform the abortion to and, in accordance |
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with Section 164.052, Occupations Code, obtains written consent |
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from: |
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(A) a parent of the minor, if the minor has no |
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managing conservator or guardian; or |
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(B) a court-appointed managing conservator or |
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guardian; |
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(2) for a pregnancy the physician has reasonably |
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determined is the result of incest, the judge of a court having |
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probate jurisdiction, the judge of a county court at law, the judge |
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of a district court, including a family district court, or a court |
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of appellate jurisdiction issues an order authorizing the minor to |
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consent to the abortion as provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004; |
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(3) for a pregnancy the physician has reasonably |
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determined is the result of incest, a probate court, county court at |
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law, district court, including a family district court, or court of |
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appeals, by its inaction, constructively authorizes the minor to |
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consent to the abortion as provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004; or |
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(4) the physician performing the abortion: |
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(A) concludes that on the basis of the |
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physician's good faith clinical judgment, a condition exists that |
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complicates the medical condition of the pregnant minor and |
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necessitates the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert her |
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death or to avoid a serious risk of substantial and irreversible |
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impairment of a major bodily function and that there is |
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insufficient time to provide the notice and obtain the consent of |
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the minor's parent, managing conservator, or guardian; and |
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(B) certifies in writing to the [Texas] |
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Department of State Health Services and in the patient's medical |
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record the medical indications supporting the physician's judgment |
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that the circumstances described by Paragraph (A) exist. |
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(d) A physician may execute for inclusion in the minor's |
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medical record an affidavit stating that, according to the best |
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information and belief of the physician, notice [or constructive
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notice] has been provided as required by this section. Execution of |
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an affidavit under this subsection creates a presumption that the |
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notice requirements of this section have been satisfied. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 33.003(a) and (c), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A pregnant minor whose pregnancy is the result of incest |
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and who wishes to have an abortion without notification to one of |
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her parents, her managing conservator, or her guardian may file an |
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application for a court order authorizing the minor to consent to |
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the performance of an abortion without notification to either of |
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her parents or a managing conservator or guardian. |
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(c) The application must be made under oath and include: |
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(1) a statement that the minor is pregnant; |
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(2) a statement that the minor is unmarried, is under |
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18 years of age, and has not had her disabilities removed under |
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Chapter 31; |
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(3) a statement that the pregnancy is the result of |
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incest and the minor wishes to have an abortion without the |
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notification of either of her parents or a managing conservator or |
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guardian; and |
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(4) a statement as to whether the minor has retained an |
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attorney and, if she has retained an attorney, the name, address, |
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and telephone number of her attorney. |
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SECTION 6. Section 33.008(b), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The Department of Family and Protective [and
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Regulatory] Services shall investigate suspected abuse reported |
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under this section and, if appropriate, shall assist the minor in |
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making an application with a court under Section 33.003. |
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SECTION 7. Section 419.908(c), Government Code, as added by |
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Chapter 994 (H.B. 3866), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2009, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c) This section does not apply to state agency personnel |
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who conduct a life safety code survey of a building or facility in |
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connection with determining whether to issue or renew a license |
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under Chapter 142, 241, 242, 243, 244, [245,] 247, 248, 251, 252, |
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464, 466, or 577, Health and Safety Code, or Chapter 103, Human |
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Resources Code. |
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SECTION 8. Section 248.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 248.003. EXEMPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a home and community support services agency |
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required to be licensed under Chapter 142; |
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(2) a person required to be licensed under Chapter 241 |
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(Texas Hospital Licensing Law); |
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(3) an institution required to be licensed under |
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Chapter 242; |
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(4) an ambulatory surgical center required to be |
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licensed under Chapter 243 (Texas Ambulatory Surgical Center |
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Licensing Act); |
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(5) a birthing center required to be licensed under |
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Chapter 244 (Texas Birthing Center Licensing Act); |
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(6) [a facility required to be licensed under Chapter
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245 (Texas Abortion Facility Reporting and Licensing Act);
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[(7)] a child care institution, foster group home, |
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foster family home, and child-placing agency, for children in |
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foster care or other residential care who are under the |
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conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective [and
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Regulatory] Services; or |
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(7) [(8)] a person providing medical or nursing care |
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or services under a license or permit issued under other state law. |
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SECTION 9. Section 164.052(a), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A physician or an applicant for a license to practice |
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medicine commits a prohibited practice if that person: |
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(1) submits to the board a false or misleading |
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statement, document, or certificate in an application for a |
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license; |
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(2) presents to the board a license, certificate, or |
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diploma that was illegally or fraudulently obtained; |
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(3) commits fraud or deception in taking or passing an |
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examination; |
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(4) uses alcohol or drugs in an intemperate manner |
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that, in the board's opinion, could endanger a patient's life; |
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(5) commits unprofessional or dishonorable conduct |
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that is likely to deceive or defraud the public, as provided by |
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Section 164.053, or injure the public; |
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(6) uses an advertising statement that is false, |
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misleading, or deceptive; |
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(7) advertises professional superiority or the |
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performance of professional service in a superior manner if that |
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advertising is not readily subject to verification; |
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(8) purchases, sells, barters, or uses, or offers to |
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purchase, sell, barter, or use, a medical degree, license, |
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certificate, or diploma, or a transcript of a license, certificate, |
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or diploma in or incident to an application to the board for a |
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license to practice medicine; |
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(9) alters, with fraudulent intent, a medical license, |
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certificate, or diploma, or a transcript of a medical license, |
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certificate, or diploma; |
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(10) uses a medical license, certificate, or diploma, |
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or a transcript of a medical license, certificate, or diploma that |
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has been: |
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(A) fraudulently purchased or issued; |
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(B) counterfeited; or |
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(C) materially altered; |
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(11) impersonates or acts as proxy for another person |
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in an examination required by this subtitle for a medical license; |
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(12) engages in conduct that subverts or attempts to |
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subvert an examination process required by this subtitle for a |
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medical license; |
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(13) impersonates a physician or permits another to |
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use the person's license or certificate to practice medicine in |
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this state; |
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(14) directly or indirectly employs a person whose |
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license to practice medicine has been suspended, canceled, or |
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revoked; |
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(15) associates in the practice of medicine with a |
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person: |
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(A) whose license to practice medicine has been |
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suspended, canceled, or revoked; or |
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(B) who has been convicted of the unlawful |
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practice of medicine in this state or elsewhere; |
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(16) performs or procures a criminal abortion, aids or |
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abets in the procuring of a criminal abortion, attempts to perform |
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or procure a criminal abortion, or attempts to aid or abet the |
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performance or procurement of a criminal abortion; |
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(17) directly or indirectly aids or abets the practice |
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of medicine by a person, partnership, association, or corporation |
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that is not licensed to practice medicine by the board; |
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(18) performs an abortion on a woman who is pregnant, |
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[with a viable unborn child during the third trimester of the
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pregnancy] unless[:
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[(A)] the abortion is authorized under Section |
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170.002(b), Health and Safety Code [necessary to prevent the death
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of the woman;
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[(B)
the viable unborn child has a severe,
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irreversible brain impairment; or
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[(C)
the woman is diagnosed with a significant
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likelihood of suffering imminent severe, irreversible brain damage
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or imminent severe, irreversible paralysis]; or |
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(19) performs an abortion on an unemancipated minor |
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without the written consent of the child's parent, managing |
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conservator, or legal guardian [or without a court order, as
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provided by Section 33.003 or 33.004, Family Code, authorizing the
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minor to consent to the abortion], unless the abortion is |
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authorized under Section 170.002(b), Health and Safety Code, and |
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performed in accordance with Chapter 33, Family Code [physician
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concludes that on the basis of the physician's good faith clinical
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judgment, a condition exists that complicates the medical condition
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of the pregnant minor and necessitates the immediate abortion of
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her pregnancy to avert her death or to avoid a serious risk of
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substantial impairment of a major bodily function and that there is
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insufficient time to obtain the consent of the child's parent,
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managing conservator, or legal guardian]. |
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SECTION 10. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 33.002(b), Family Code; |
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(2) Section 170.001(3), Health and Safety Code; |
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(3) Chapter 171, Health and Safety Code; and |
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(4) Chapter 245, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 11. If any provision of this Act or its application |
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to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the entire Act is |
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invalid, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared to |
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be nonseverable. |
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SECTION 12. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
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to an offense committed or conduct that occurs on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An offense committed or conduct that |
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occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect when the offense was committed or the conduct occurred, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense is committed or conduct occurs |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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or conduct occurs before the effective date. |
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SECTION 13. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
|
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |