89R4709 AB-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 737       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the duties of the Texas Maternal Mortality and   Morbidity Review Committee and the collection, maintenance, and   disclosure of maternal health records regarding miscarriage and   lack of access to therapeutic termination of pregnancy.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 34.005.  DUTIES OF REVIEW COMMITTEE.  The review   committee shall:                (1)  study and review:                      (A)  cases of pregnancy-related deaths, including   deaths related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage or   attributable to lack of access to therapeutic termination of   pregnancy;                      (B)  trends, rates, or disparities in   pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity, including   severe maternal morbidity related to miscarriage or threatened   miscarriage or attributable to lack of access to therapeutic   termination of pregnancy;                      (C)  health conditions and factors that   disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as   determined in the joint biennial report required under Section   34.015; and                      (D)  best practices and programs operating in   other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths;                (2)  compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on   the socioeconomic status of the mother;                (3)  determine the feasibility of the review committee   studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and                (4)  in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory   Council, make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of   pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this   state.          SECTION 2.  Section 34.007, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:          (d)  In addition to the data required under Subsection (b)   and cases selected under Subsection (c), the department shall   aggregate and submit to the review committee data regarding cases   of death and severe maternal morbidity:                (1)  related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage;   or                (2)  attributable to lack of access to therapeutic   termination of pregnancy.          SECTION 3.  Section 34.013, Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 34.013.  INAPPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  (a) Except as   provided by Subsection (b), this [This] chapter does not apply to   disclosure of records pertaining to voluntary or therapeutic   termination of pregnancy, and those records may not be collected,   maintained, or disclosed under this chapter.          (b)  Records on cases of deaths or severe maternal morbidity   related to miscarriage or threatened miscarriage or attributable to   lack of access to therapeutic termination of pregnancy may be   collected, maintained, and disclosed for purposes of this chapter   and subject to the requirements of this chapter.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.