|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the regulation of abortion procedures; providing civil |
|
penalties; affecting the prosecution of a criminal offense. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 33.001, Family Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivisions (3-a) and (4-a) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(1) "Abortion" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
171.002, 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]. |
|
(3-a) "Perform" with respect to an abortion includes |
|
to induce the abortion. |
|
(4-a) "Positive proof of age" means a |
|
government-issued document, including a birth certificate or |
|
driver's license or similar state-issued or federal |
|
government-issued identification card, that indicates a person's |
|
age. |
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 33.0011 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 33.0011. POSITIVE PROOF OF AGE. (a) Except in the |
|
case of a medical emergency, as defined by Section 171.002, Health |
|
and Safety Code, or as provided by this chapter, a physician may not |
|
perform or attempt to perform an abortion on any pregnant woman |
|
unless the physician has obtained: |
|
(1) positive proof of age demonstrating that the |
|
pregnant woman is not a minor; or |
|
(2) a certified copy of the court order proving that |
|
the pregnant woman is an emancipated minor. |
|
(b) A copy of the positive proof of age submitted under |
|
Subsection (a) must be kept in the woman's medical record until the |
|
later of: |
|
(1) the woman's 25th birthday; or |
|
(2) the seventh anniversary of the date of the |
|
certification. |
|
SECTION 3. Section 33.002, Family Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsections (a), (d), (e), and (g) and adding Subsection |
|
(g-1) to read as follows: |
|
(a) Subject to Sections 33.003 and 33.004, a [A] physician |
|
may not perform an abortion or attempt to perform an abortion on a |
|
pregnant unemancipated minor unless written consent of the minor's |
|
parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian is obtained under |
|
Section 164.052(a)(19), Occupations Code, and: |
|
(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; or |
|
(2) [the 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;
|
|
[(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 as |
|
defined by Section 171.002, Health and Safety Code [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 as defined by Section 171.002, |
|
Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(C) provides the notice required by Section |
|
33.0021 [the circumstances described by Paragraph (A) exist]. |
|
(d) A physician shall [may] execute for inclusion in the |
|
minor's medical record an affidavit stating that, according to the |
|
best information and belief of the physician, notice [or
|
|
constructive notice] has been provided as required by this section. |
|
[Execution of an affidavit under this subsection creates a
|
|
presumption that the requirements of this section have been
|
|
satisfied.] |
|
(e) The [Texas] Department of State Health Services shall |
|
prepare a form to be used for making the certification required by |
|
Subsection (a)(2)(B) [(a)(4)]. |
|
(g) A physician who with criminal negligence |
|
[intentionally] performs or attempts to perform an abortion on a |
|
pregnant unemancipated minor in violation of this section commits |
|
an offense. An offense under this subsection is punishable by a |
|
fine not to exceed $10,000. In this subsection, "criminal |
|
negligence" ["intentionally"] has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
6.03(d) [6.03(a)], Penal Code. |
|
(g-1) A physician performing an abortion and a pregnant |
|
unemancipated minor seeking an abortion under this section are |
|
subject to the requirements established under Chapter 171, Health |
|
and Safety Code. The physician is also subject to the requirements |
|
established under Section 164.052(a)(19), Occupations Code. |
|
SECTION 4. Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 33.0021 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 33.0021. MEDICAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION; AFFIDAVIT |
|
FOR MEDICAL RECORD. (a) If the physician who is to perform the |
|
abortion concludes under Section 33.002(a)(2) that a medical |
|
emergency exists and that there is insufficient time to provide the |
|
notice required by Section 33.002, the physician shall verbally |
|
inform the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the |
|
unemancipated minor within two 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, as defined by Section 171.002, Health |
|
and Safety Code, that required the performance of a medical |
|
emergency abortion without fulfilling the requirements of Section |
|
33.002. |
|
(b) A physician who performs an abortion as described by |
|
Subsection (a) shall send a written notice of the medical emergency |
|
abortion 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) The physician who performs the abortion on the minor |
|
shall execute for inclusion in the medical record of the minor an |
|
affidavit that explains the specific life-threatening physical |
|
condition of the minor that necessitated the immediate abortion. |
|
SECTION 5. Section 33.003, Family Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (h), (i), and (j) and |
|
adding Subsections (o), (p), and (q) 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 the |
|
consent of or notification to either of her parents or a managing |
|
conservator or guardian. |
|
(b) The application must [may] be filed in: |
|
(1) a [any] county court at law in the minor's county |
|
of residence; |
|
(2) a [,] court having probate jurisdiction in the |
|
minor's county of residence; [,] or |
|
(3) a district court, including a family district |
|
court, with jurisdiction over the minor's county of residence [in
|
|
this state]. |
|
(c) The application must be made under oath and include: |
|
(1) a statement that the minor is pregnant; |
|
(2) a statement that the minor is unmarried, is under |
|
18 years of age, and has not had her disabilities removed under |
|
Chapter 31; |
|
(3) a statement that the minor wishes to have an |
|
abortion without the consent or notification of either of her |
|
parents or a managing conservator or guardian; [and] |
|
(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 |
|
(5) a statement about the minor's current residence, |
|
including the minor's physical address, mailing address, and |
|
telephone number. |
|
(e) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for 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. |
|
(f) The court may appoint to serve as guardian ad litem: |
|
(1) a person who may consent to treatment for the minor |
|
under Sections 32.001(a)(1)-(3); |
|
(2) [a psychiatrist or an individual licensed or
|
|
certified as a psychologist under Chapter 501, Occupations Code;
|
|
[(3)] an appropriate employee of the Department of |
|
Family and Protective Services; or |
|
(3) an attorney who is licensed to practice law in this |
|
state and is in good standing with the State Bar of Texas |
|
[(4) a member of the clergy; or
|
|
[(5)
another appropriate person selected by the
|
|
court]. |
|
(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 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 |
|
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. |
|
(i) The court shall determine by clear and convincing [a
|
|
preponderance of the] evidence whether the minor is mature and |
|
sufficiently well informed to make the decision to have an abortion |
|
performed without the consent of or notification to either of her |
|
parents or a managing conservator or guardian or [,] whether |
|
consent or notification would not be in the best interest of the |
|
minor. The court shall determine by a preponderance of the evidence |
|
[, or] whether consent or notification may lead to physical or [,] |
|
sexual [, or emotional] abuse of the minor. The court shall enter |
|
an order authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of an |
|
abortion without the consent of or notification to either of her |
|
parents or a managing conservator or guardian and shall execute the |
|
required forms if [If] the court finds that the minor is mature and |
|
sufficiently well informed, and: |
|
(1) that consent or notification would not be in the |
|
minor's best interest; [,] or |
|
(2) that consent or notification may lead to physical |
|
or [,] 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 either of her parents or a
|
|
managing conservator or guardian and shall execute the required
|
|
forms]. |
|
(j) If the court finds that the minor does not meet the |
|
requirements of Subsection (i), the court may not authorize the |
|
minor to consent to an abortion without the consent required by |
|
Section 164.052(a)(19), Occupations Code, or notification |
|
authorized under Section 33.002(a)(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) 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 the consent of or notification to either of |
|
her parents or a managing conservator or guardian. |
|
(q) 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. An attorney that negligently makes a misrepresentation |
|
in a sworn statement made under this subsection violates this |
|
chapter and is subject to civil penalties under Section 33.012. |
|
SECTION 6. Sections 33.004(b) and (f), Family Code, are |
|
amended 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 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 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. |
|
(f) An expedited confidential appeal shall be available to |
|
any pregnant minor to whom a court of appeals denies an order |
|
authorizing the minor to consent to the performance of an abortion |
|
without the consent of or notification to either of her parents or a |
|
managing conservator or guardian. |
|
SECTION 7. 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 |
|
[A physician 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 12 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 (b), 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 8. 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 by a person responsible for the |
|
minor's care, custody, or welfare, as that term is defined by |
|
Section 261.001, 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 9. 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 [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 10. Chapter 33, Family Code, is amended by adding |
|
Sections 33.012 and 33.013 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 33.012. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who |
|
intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently violates this |
|
chapter is liable to this state for a civil penalty of: |
|
(1) $10,000 for the first violation; |
|
(2) $50,000 for the second violation; |
|
(3) $100,000 for the third violation; or |
|
(4) an amount greater than $100,000 that is sufficient |
|
to deter future violations for each succeeding violation. |
|
(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 a minor on |
|
whom an abortion is performed or attempted. |
|
(d) It is not a defense to an action brought under this |
|
section that the minor gave informed and voluntary consent. |
|
Sec. 33.013. CAPACITY TO CONSENT. An unemancipated minor |
|
does not have the capacity to consent to any action that violates |
|
this chapter. |
|
SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 22.019 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 22.019. PUBLIC INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN |
|
PETITIONS AND MOTIONS. (a) The supreme court shall adopt rules |
|
governing the collection of statistical information relating to |
|
applications and appeals granted under Sections 33.003(h) and |
|
33.004(b), Family Code. The information collected by the supreme |
|
court must include: |
|
(1) the number of judicial bypass cases; |
|
(2) the number of judicial bypass cases in which the |
|
court appointed a guardian ad litem; |
|
(3) the number of judicial bypass cases in which the |
|
court appointed an attorney; |
|
(4) the number of judicial bypass cases in which the |
|
judge issued an order authorizing an abortion without consent or |
|
notification; and |
|
(5) the number of judicial bypass cases in which the |
|
judge denied an order, the number of appeals filed as a result of a |
|
denial, the number of denials that were affirmed, and the number of |
|
denials that were reversed. |
|
(b) The information collected under this section must be |
|
available to the public in aggregate form by county. |
|
(c) Identifying information about a minor collected under |
|
this section is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under |
|
Chapter 552. |
|
SECTION 12. 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; |
|
(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 13. 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 or Subchapter C, Chapter 171, Health and Safety Code.] |
|
SECTION 14. The following provisions of the Family Code are |
|
repealed: |
|
(1) Section 33.001(2); |
|
(2) Sections 33.002(b), (c), (f), (h), and (i); |
|
(3) Section 33.003(k); |
|
(4) Section 33.005; and |
|
(5) Section 33.009. |
|
SECTION 15. If any court enjoins, suspends, or delays the |
|
implementation of the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 33, |
|
Family Code, and Section 164.052, Occupations Code, the former law, |
|
as the law existed immediately before the effective date of this |
|
Act, becomes or remains in effect and continues in effect. At the |
|
time a temporary or permanent restraining order or injunction |
|
described by this section is stayed or dissolved, or otherwise |
|
ceases to have effect, the changes in law made by this Act become |
|
immediately effective. |
|
SECTION 16. The legislature intends that every application |
|
of this Act to every individual woman shall be severable from each |
|
other. In the unexpected event that the application of this Act is |
|
found to impose an impermissible undue burden on any pregnant woman |
|
or group of pregnant women, the application of the Act to those |
|
women shall be severed from the remaining applications of the Act |
|
that do not impose an undue burden, and those remaining |
|
applications shall remain in force and unaffected, consistent with |
|
Section 15 of this Act. |
|
SECTION 17. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
|
to an offense committed or conduct that occurs on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. An offense committed or conduct that |
|
occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
|
in effect on the date the offense was committed or the conduct |
|
occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed or |
|
conduct occurs before the effective date of this Act if any element |
|
of the offense or conduct occurs before the effective date. |
|
SECTION 18. Information obtained before the effective date |
|
of this Act by the Department of Family and Protective Services or |
|
another entity under Section 33.009, Family Code, as it existed |
|
before the effective date of this Act, remains confidential to the |
|
extent provided by Section 33.010, Family Code, as it existed |
|
before the effective date of this Act. |
|
SECTION 19. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
|
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
|
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
|
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
|
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |