Bill Text: TX SB545 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to information regarding autism spectrum disorders.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-08 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB545 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB545-Introduced.html
| 85R672 AJZ-D | ||
| By: Lucio | S.B. No. 545 | |
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| relating to information regarding autism spectrum disorders. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subchapter X to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER X. INFORMATION REGARDING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS | ||
| Sec. 161.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
| (1) "Autism spectrum disorder" has the meaning | ||
| assigned by Section 1355.001, Insurance Code. | ||
| (2) "Health care provider" has the meaning assigned by | ||
| Section 34.001. | ||
| Sec. 161.702. INFORMATION REGARDING AUTISM SPECTRUM | ||
| DISORDERS. (a) The department shall make available information | ||
| regarding autism spectrum disorders that includes: | ||
| (1) information addressing physical, developmental, | ||
| educational, and psychosocial outcomes, behavioral safety | ||
| concerns, life expectancy, clinical course, and intellectual and | ||
| functional development for individuals with an autism spectrum | ||
| disorder; | ||
| (2) information regarding available treatment options | ||
| for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder; | ||
| (3) contact information for national and local autism | ||
| spectrum disorder education and support programs, services, and | ||
| organizations, including organizations in Houston, Dallas, San | ||
| Antonio, and Austin, and information hotlines, resource centers, | ||
| and clearinghouses; and | ||
| (4) any other information required by the department. | ||
| (b) The information described by Subsection (a) must be: | ||
| (1) current, evidence-based information that has been | ||
| reviewed by medical experts and local autism spectrum disorder | ||
| organizations; and | ||
| (2) published in English and Spanish. | ||
| (c) The department shall make the information described by | ||
| Subsection (a) available on the department's Internet website in a | ||
| format that may be easily printed. The department may provide the | ||
| information described by Subsection (a) in writing to health care | ||
| providers if the department determines that providing written | ||
| information is cost-effective. | ||
| Sec. 161.703. DUTY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. (a) A health | ||
| care provider who administers or causes to be administered a test | ||
| for an autism spectrum disorder or who initially diagnoses a child | ||
| with an autism spectrum disorder shall provide the information | ||
| described by Section 161.702 to a parent of a child who receives: | ||
| (1) a test result indicating a probability or | ||
| diagnosis that the child has an autism spectrum disorder; or | ||
| (2) a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. | ||
| (b) In addition to providing the information described by | ||
| Subsection (a), a health care provider may provide additional | ||
| information about autism spectrum disorders that is current and | ||
| evidence-based and has been reviewed by medical experts and | ||
| national autism spectrum disorder organizations. | ||
| (c) Notwithstanding any other law, this section does not | ||
| impose a standard of care or create an obligation or duty that | ||
| provides a basis for a cause of action against a health care | ||
| provider. A health care provider may not be held civilly or | ||
| criminally liable for failing to provide information as required by | ||
| Subsection (a). | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
