Texas Bill Regarding Abortion Resource Awareness Sessions (SB 1869)

SB 1869 would require women seeking an abortion to take an adoption options and parenting resource session prior to the procedure.

SB 1869 would amend existing informed consent law (Health and Safety Code § 171.012) to require physicians to provide patients seeking an abortion with information about the resource awareness session provided by the Health and Human Services Commission.

Under SB 1869, the Health and Human Services Commission would be required to offer, at no cost, a resource awareness session lasting 1-3 hours that provides information regarding:

• adoption options;
• a woman’s health before and during pregnancy; and
• available resources for pregnant women and their children, including the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children; and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Before the abortion is performed, the pregnant woman would need to complete the session and obtain a certificate of completion.

A woman would not be required to take the session if:

• she is a minor whose pregnancy is a result of a sexual assault, incest or other violation;
• the abortion is being performed with the intent to save the life or preserve the life of the unborn child, remove an dead, unborn child, remove an ectopic pregnancy, or to treat a maternal disease or illness.

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