S.B. No. 124 introduces a new subchapter to the Health and Safety Code that establishes comprehensive rights for hospital patients, requiring hospitals to adopt a written patients' rights policy. This policy ensures that patients receive considerate care, have the right to choose their physician, unrestricted visitation, and access to information regarding their treatment. The bill emphasizes informed consent, the right to participate in healthcare decisions, and the provision of care that respects the dignity and comfort of patients, particularly those who are terminally ill. It also 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. Additionally, hospitals must display their patients' rights policy prominently and provide this information in the patient's primary language when possible.

The bill further amends the Health and Safety Code to include provisions for the rights of patients in inpatient facilities, particularly those receiving mental health and chemical dependency services. It mandates the executive commissioner to adopt a "patient's bill of rights" that encompasses rights from various chapters and requires the creation of a "children's bill of rights" for minors in child-care facilities. Certain facilities, specifically those licensed under Chapters 242 or 577 or operated by federal or state agencies, are exempt from these regulations. Compliance with the new regulations is delayed until January 1, 2026, and the bill repeals certain sections of the Health and Safety Code that are no longer necessary. The legislation will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

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)