HB37 - Relating to perinatal bereavement care provided by certain hospitals, a perinatal bereavement care initiative, and a perinatal bereavement care hospital recognition program.

      H.B. No. 37         AN ACT   relating to perinatal bereavement care provided by certain   hospitals, a perinatal bereavement care initiative, and a perinatal   bereavement care hospital recognition program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Everly's Law in honor of   Everly Grace Talman, whose story inspired this legislation.          SECTION 2.  Subtitle G, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 328. PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES           Sec. 328.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Department" means the Department of State Health   Services.                 (2)     "Executive commissioner" means the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.                 (3)     "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under Chapter   241 or a teaching hospital, as defined by Section 58A.001,   Education Code.                 (4)     "Initiative" means the perinatal bereavement care   initiative established under Section 328.003.                 (5)     "Perinatal bereavement care" means the provision   of supportive care for a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting   fetal condition.                 (6)     "Perinatal bereavement device" means a device with   technology capable of delaying for bereavement purposes the   deterioration of human tissue for up to 72 hours following an   intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth.                 (7)     "Recognition program" means the hospital   recognition program established under Section 328.004.           Sec.   328.002.     PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE SERVICES REQUIRED   IN CERTAIN HOSPITALS. A hospital assigned a maternal level of care   designation under Section 241.182 shall, following an intrauterine   fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth, make available to the   expectant parents and family members for a period equal to the   length of stay recommended by a medical professional for a birth:                 (1)     perinatal bereavement care counseling options;   and                 (2)  any available perinatal bereavement device.           Sec.   328.003.     PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT CARE INITIATIVE. (a)   The department shall establish and administer a perinatal   bereavement care initiative to improve access to and quality of   perinatal bereavement care in this state.           (b)     Under the initiative, the department may provide to   hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under   Section 241.182 the following resources for the hospital's   provision of perinatal bereavement care:                 (1)     for hospital personnel who provide maternal care,   training on interacting with parents and family members in a   considerate and respectful manner following an intrauterine fetal   demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth;                 (2)  a perinatal bereavement device, including:                       (A)     training for personnel on the use of the   device; and                       (B)  support to maintain the device; and                 (3)     any other resources necessary for providing   perinatal bereavement care.           (c)     In providing resources to hospitals under the   initiative, the department shall prioritize hospitals that:                 (1)  lack access to a perinatal bereavement device;                 (2)     treat a greater number of high-risk maternal   patients; and                 (3)  deliver a greater number of babies.           (d)     The department, as appropriate and using money   appropriated or otherwise available for that purpose, may award   grants under the initiative to hospitals assigned a maternal level   of care designation under Section 241.182 to increase access to   perinatal bereavement care resources.           (e)     The department may accept gifts, grants, and donations   from any source for the purposes of the initiative.           Sec.   328.004.     HOSPITAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM. The executive   commissioner, in collaboration with the Perinatal Advisory Council   established under Section 241.187, shall:                 (1)     develop and implement a program to recognize   hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under   Section 241.182 that provide perinatal bereavement care training to   hospital personnel; and                 (2)     adopt criteria for awarding recognition to a   hospital under the recognition program.          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human   Services Commission may adopt the rules necessary to implement   Chapter 328, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 37 was passed by the House on April   24, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 37 was passed by the Senate on May 14,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor