S.B. No. 1233, known as the Perinatal Palliative Care Act, aims to ensure that pregnant women whose unborn children are diagnosed with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions are informed about the availability of perinatal palliative care. The bill introduces a new subchapter in the Health and Safety Code, which defines perinatal palliative care and outlines the responsibilities of healthcare providers. Specifically, healthcare providers must provide informational materials about perinatal palliative care and a list of available providers at the time of diagnosis. The bill also mandates the development of informational materials and a geographically indexed list of perinatal palliative care providers by the commission in collaboration with relevant departments.

Additionally, the bill establishes an administrative penalty for healthcare providers who fail to comply with these requirements. If a provider does not provide the necessary informational materials, the pregnant woman can file a complaint, and the provider may face disciplinary action, including a written warning for initial violations and a $1,000 penalty for subsequent violations. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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