The bill titled "An Act relating to hospital patients' rights and hospital policies and procedures; providing an administrative penalty" introduces a new subchapter (Subchapter N) to Chapter 241 of the Health and Safety Code, which establishes specific rights for hospital patients. It requires hospitals to adopt and enforce a written policy that guarantees patients' rights, including respectful care, the right to choose a physician, unrestricted visitation, and access to investigational treatments for terminally ill patients. The bill also emphasizes informed treatment decisions and the establishment of procedures for addressing ethical issues in patient care. Additionally, it imposes a $1,000 administrative penalty for each violation of the new subchapter, with each day a violation continues being treated as a separate offense.

The bill further amends existing provisions in the Health and Safety Code to clarify exemptions for certain facilities and mandates the creation of a "patient's bill of rights" and a "children's bill of rights" for minors in child-care facilities. It also sets a compliance deadline for hospitals to adhere to the new subchapter by January 1, 2026, and requires the executive commissioner to implement necessary rules promptly after the bill's effective date, which may be immediate or set for September 1, 2025, depending on legislative approval. The bill repeals certain sections of the Health and Safety Code to align with these new requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 164.009, Health and Safety Code 241.004, Health and Safety Code 321.002 (Health and Safety Code 164, Health and Safety Code 321, Health and Safety Code 241)