S.B. No. 1599

	AN ACT
	relating to maternal mortality reporting and investigation
	information.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended
	by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER J.  MATERNAL MORTALITY REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION
	INFORMATION
	Sec. 1001.241.  MATERNAL MORTALITY REPORTING AND
	INVESTIGATION INFORMATION. (a)  The department shall post on the
	department's Internet website information regarding the systematic
	protocol for pregnancy-related death investigations and the best
	practices for reporting pregnancy-related deaths to the medical
	examiner or justice of the peace of each county, as applicable.
	(b)  The information provided under Subsection (a) must
	include guidelines for:
	(1)  determining when a comprehensive toxicology
	screening should be performed on a person whose death was related to
	pregnancy;
	(2)  determining when a death should be reported to or
	investigated by a medical examiner or justice of the peace under
	Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
	(3)  correctly completing the death certificate of a
	person whose death was related to pregnancy.
	(c)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules as
	necessary to implement this section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1599 passed the Senate on
	May 4, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1599 passed the House on
	May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor