Text of TX HB 1424 (2021)

87R1509 SCL-D By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1424 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a health care provider's right to object to participation in a medical procedure that violates the provider's ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 103, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 103. RIGHT TO OBJECT TO PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN MEDICAL PROCEDURES [ABORTION PROCEDURE] SECTION 2. Sections 103.001 and 103.002, Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows: Sec. 103.001. RIGHT TO OBJECT. A physician, nurse, staff member, or employee of a hospital or other health care facility who objects to directly or indirectly performing or participating in an abortion procedure or any other medical procedure on the grounds that the procedure violates the physician's, nurse's, staff member's, or employee's ethical, moral, or religious beliefs may not be required to directly or indirectly perform or participate in the procedure. Sec. 103.002. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. (a) A hospital or health care facility may not discriminate against a physician, nurse, staff member, or employee, or an applicant for one of those positions, who refuses to directly or indirectly perform or participate in: (1) an abortion procedure; or (2) any other medical procedure that violates the physician's, nurse's, staff member's, employee's, or applicant's ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. (b) A hospital or health care facility may not discriminate against a physician, nurse, staff member, or employee because of the person's willingness or unwillingness to directly or indirectly perform or participate in an abortion procedure or any other medical procedure at another facility. (c) An educational institution may not discriminate against an applicant for admission or employment as a student, intern, or resident because of the applicant's: (1) attitude concerning abortion; or (2) ethical, moral, or religious beliefs regarding any other medical procedure. SECTION 3. Chapter 103, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an abortion or other medical procedure performed on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.