Bill Text: TX SB1558 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation and optional filing of a record of life for an unborn child and the use of a certificate of stillbirth; authorizing fees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-24 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1558 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1558-Introduced.html
| 87R9037 JG-F | ||
| By: Taylor | S.B. No. 1558 | |
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| relating to the creation and optional filing of a record of life for | ||
| an unborn child and the use of a certificate of stillbirth; | ||
| authorizing fees. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 192, Health and Safety | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 192. BIRTH AND LIFE RECORDS | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 192, Health and Safety | ||
| Code, is amended by adding Section 192.0023 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 192.0023. OPTIONAL REGISTRATION OF LIFE; LIFE | ||
| CERTIFICATE. (a) In this section, "unborn child" has the meaning | ||
| assigned by Section 171.061. | ||
| (b) An unborn child's parent at the parent's discretion may | ||
| request a life certificate for the unborn child under this section | ||
| before the unborn child's birth. | ||
| (c) The department shall prescribe the form and content of | ||
| the life certificate and shall specify the information necessary to | ||
| prepare the certificate. The form must include separate spaces for | ||
| recording: | ||
| (1) the name of the unborn child; | ||
| (2) the date the unborn child's life is acknowledged; | ||
| and | ||
| (3) the date the unborn child is born. | ||
| (d) The parent who requests the life certificate may provide | ||
| a name for the unborn child to be listed on the life certificate. If | ||
| the parent does not wish to provide a name, the vital statistics | ||
| unit shall fill in the certificate with the name "baby boy" or "baby | ||
| girl" and the last name of the parent. | ||
| (e) On request of an unborn child's parent, a physician or | ||
| advanced practice registered nurse shall file the life certificate | ||
| with the local registrar of the registration district in which the | ||
| parent resides. The life certificate must be accompanied by an | ||
| affidavit signed by the physician or nurse attesting to the life of | ||
| the unborn child based on a sonogram or other appropriate physical | ||
| examination of the unborn child's mother. | ||
| (f) A parent may request an amendment to the life | ||
| certificate after the unborn child's birth to add the child's date | ||
| of birth or add or amend the child's name. | ||
| (g) A local registrar shall collect, record, preserve, | ||
| search for, issue copies of, and assess copy fees for a life | ||
| certificate in the same manner as provided for birth certificates | ||
| and in accordance with department rules. | ||
| (h) The parents of an unborn child may use the life | ||
| certificate of an unborn child filed under this section in the same | ||
| manner and for the same purposes provided for birth certificates | ||
| under law and as provided by department rules. | ||
| (i) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to | ||
| implement this section. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 192.0022(f), Health and Safety Code, is | ||
| repealed. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
