S.B. No. 33 amends the Health and Safety Code to introduce specific exceptions to existing laws prohibiting abortion. The bill adds a new subsection (b-1) to Section 170A.002, stating that an abortion is permissible if a physician determines it is necessary due to a lethal fetal anomaly or a life-limiting diagnosis indicating that the fetus cannot survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical interventions. Additionally, the bill modifies Section 171.045 to clarify that the method of abortion must provide the best chance for the unborn child's survival, while also updating the conditions under which the prohibitions and requirements of Sections 171.043, 171.044, and 171.045(b) do not apply.

Further amendments include provisions that allow abortions performed in unlicensed facilities under specific circumstances, such as medical emergencies or lethal fetal anomalies, as outlined in Section 245.016. The bill also ensures that physicians are not penalized for performing abortions in accordance with these exceptions. Overall, S.B. No. 33 aims to provide clearer guidelines for when abortions may be legally performed, particularly in cases of severe medical conditions affecting the fetus. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 171.045, Health and Safety Code 171.205 (Health and Safety Code 171)