Texas Adoption Education Course Requirement (HB 21)

HB 21 would have required a woman to complete a three-hour adoption course at least 24 hours before obtaining an abortion unless an abortion is necessary to avert the woman’s death or a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, other than a psychological condition.

The provision would not have applied to an abortion performed on a minor whose pregnancy is a result of sexual assault or incest or to an act done with the intent to: (1) save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child; (2) remove a dead, unborn child whose death was caused by spontaneous abortion; (3) remove an ectopic pregnancy; or (4) treat a maternal disease or illness.

STATUS

This bill (and its companion SB 17) was introduced during the third special legislative session called by Gov. Rick Perry in 2013.

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