Bill Text: TX HB707 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to providing information and other services relating to emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-23 - Referred to Public Health [HB707 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB707-Introduced.html

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84R4172 AJZ-D
By: Farrar H.B. No. 707

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to providing information and other services relating to
emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 323, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Sections 323.0051 and 323.0052 to read as follows:
Sec. 323.0051. EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE INFORMATION. (a)
The department shall develop a standard information form for sexual
assault survivors that includes information regarding emergency
contraception.
(b) Emergency contraception information contained in the
form must be medically and factually accurate and unbiased. The
department may use appropriate medical organizations and
associations, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, as resources in developing the form.
(c) The information form shall be published in:
(1) an easily comprehensible form; and
(2) a typeface large enough to be clearly legible.
(d) The department shall annually review the information
form to determine if changes to the contents of the form are
necessary.
(e) A health care facility shall use the standard form
developed under this section.
Sec. 323.0052. EMERGENCY SERVICES RELATING TO EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTION. In addition to the other services and information
required under this chapter, after a sexual assault survivor
arrives at a health care facility for emergency care following an
alleged sexual assault, the facility shall:
(1) provide the sexual assault survivor with the
information form required under Section 323.0051;
(2) orally communicate to the sexual assault survivor
the information regarding emergency contraception contained in the
information form provided under Subdivision (1);
(3) if indicated by the history of contact, orally
inform the sexual assault survivor that the survivor may request
and be provided with emergency contraception at the facility; and
(4) if not medically contraindicated and if the
survivor agrees to submit to a pregnancy test and that pregnancy
test produces a negative result, provide the sexual assault
survivor with emergency contraception immediately on request of the
survivor.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.