Sponsored by: Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) and Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano)
Summary: HB 3796/SB 2751 would have mandated clinic staff verbally, and in writing, inform a woman having an abortion that a person can not coerce or force her to have an abortion. A physician would not have beeb able to perform an abortion until a woman provided her consent for the procedure via a detailed form that the doctor was forced to supply. These bills would have mandated that physicians performing abortions report detailed information to the state which included, among other things: the name of the physician and abortion facility, the age, race, marital status, city and county of residence of the woman, the stage of pregnancy, the woman's pregnancy history, her method of payment for the procedure, the amount paid and the source of referral for the service, and age of the father. The bills would have further required reporting for abortion services for minors, including whether the parent was notified, whether the minor was emancipated, how the patient was informed about the judicial bypass process and who had made the court arrangements. Physicians who did not adequately comply with the reporting requirements would have been subject to fines and other penalties.
HB 3796/SB 2751 would have mandated clinic staff verbally, and in writing, inform a woman having an abortion that a person can not coerce or force her to have an abortion. A physician would not have beeb able to perform an abortion until a woman provided her consent for the procedure via a detailed form that the doctor was forced to supply.
These bills would have mandated that physicians performing abortions report detailed information to the state which included, among other things: the name of the physician and abortion facility, the age, race, marital status, city and county of residence of the woman, the stage of pregnancy, the woman's pregnancy history, her method of payment for the procedure, the amount paid and the source of referral for the service, and age of the father.
PPNT Position: Oppose - HB 3796/SB 2571 would have imposed burdensome and invasive reporting requirements on physicians that would have interfered with the patient's right to privacy. These bills singled out abortions for onerous reporting requirements, as Texas law does not require this kind of detailed reporting for other medical procedures. These lengthy reporting requirements were intended to discourage physicians from offering abortion services and would have imposed administrative costs that could have endangered the sustainability of such services. The intrusive nature of the reporting requirements only intended to intimidate women who chose to have an abortion.
Oppose - HB 3796/SB 2571 would have imposed burdensome and invasive reporting requirements on physicians that would have interfered with the patient's right to privacy.
These bills singled out abortions for onerous reporting requirements, as Texas law does not require this kind of detailed reporting for other medical procedures. These lengthy reporting requirements were intended to discourage physicians from offering abortion services and would have imposed administrative costs that could have endangered the sustainability of such services.
The intrusive nature of the reporting requirements only intended to intimidate women who chose to have an abortion.
Latest Action: 5/12/2009 - HB 3796 substitute was left pending in House Calendars committee. 5/26/2009 - SB 2571 substitute was left pending in the Texas Senate.
5/12/2009 - HB 3796 substitute was left pending in House Calendars committee.
5/26/2009 - SB 2571 substitute was left pending in the Texas Senate.
Recorded Votes: 5/6/2009 - HB 3796 substitute House committee vote (passed 9-3). PPNT opposed this bill. For (Anti-Choice) Absent Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton) Rep. David Farabee (D-Wichita Falls) Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) 5/11/2009 - SB 2571 substitute Senate committee vote (passed 6-2). PPNT opposed this bill. For (Anti-Choice) Absent Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay)
5/6/2009 - HB 3796 substitute House committee vote (passed 9-3). PPNT opposed this bill.
5/11/2009 - SB 2571 substitute Senate committee vote (passed 6-2). PPNT opposed this bill.
