Bill > SB5

This bill, titled "Relating to the regulation of abortion procedures, providers, and facilities; providing penalties," introduces several significant changes to Texas law concerning abortion. Primarily, it prohibits abortions at or after 20 weeks of post-fertilization age, which is defined as the age of the unborn child calculated from conception, unless the abortion is necessary to save the life or preserve the health of the pregnant woman, or if the unborn child has a severe fetal abnormality. The bill also requires physicians performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital (within 30 miles) that provides obstetrical or gynecological care, and to provide patients with a 24-hour contact number for complications and the location of the nearest hospital for emergency treatment, with violations punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. Furthermore, it establishes stricter regulations for abortion-inducing drugs, requiring them to be administered by a physician following specific protocols, including an examination to determine gestational age and location of the pregnancy, provision of the drug's label, a 24-hour contact number, and a mandatory follow-up visit within 14 days to confirm the termination of the pregnancy and assess bleeding. The bill also mandates that abortion facilities meet the same minimum standards as ambulatory surgical centers and updates reporting requirements to include the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child instead of the period of gestation. Finally, it clarifies that physicians performing abortions in violation of these new provisions may face disciplinary action from the Texas Medical Board and amends existing laws to include violations of these new regulations as prohibited practices for physicians.