Hundreds of new state laws take effect Thursday - Austin American-Statesman
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Hundreds of new state laws take effect today , and they touch Texans' lives at every stage, from birth (newborn screenings) to death (protests at funerals), and even beyond (paperwork required to transport body parts in Texas.)
State senators and representatives passed more than 1,350 pieces of legislation during their regular session that ended in May.
About half the bills took effect immediately, and most of the rest 673 to be exact kick in today.
One of the most controversial the law requiring women to receive a fetal sonogram and hear about its results at least 24 hours before an abortion already is in peril.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday striking down portions of the law requiring doctors to share and discuss the sonogram with the pregnant woman.
But plenty of other new laws are ready to be implemented. Here are some most likely to directly affect Texans:
Newborn hearing screenings: Newborns in small Texas counties often cannot receive hearing tests, which have been offered in larger counties. Senate Bill 229 allows babies born in smaller communities to be screened.
Spanking: House Bill 359, better known as the spanking bill, lets parents opt their children out of corporal punishment in public schools that allow the practice. Otherwise, spanking is OK. (The major school districts in Central Texas don't allow spanking.)
Summer nutrition: SB 89 requires school districts in which at least half the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches to provide a summer nutrition program.
Teen violence: HB 2496 creates a 12-week teen-dating violence prevention program in the courts to educate teens and provide counseling and referrals. If offenders complete the program, they could have their criminal cases dismissed.
Football helmets: Aimed at preventing concussions, HB 675 requires school districts to replace helmets that are 16 years old or older and to recondition, every two years, helmets that are 10 years old.
Internet dating: Requires online dating services to disclose whether criminal history background screenings have been performed on their members. SB 488 also requires online dating services to publish a list and description of their safety measures.
Cancer drugs: HB 438 requires health insurers to provide coverage for oral medications that fight cancer at the same coverage level as intravenous chemotherapy drugs.
Elder care: HB 2903 expands the state-supported Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which provides health care and assisted-living services for senior citizens who want to live independently rather than in nursing homes.
Funerals: HB 718 addresses protests at funerals, which have been targeted in recent years by anti-war protesters. The new law prohibits demonstrations during funerals and three hours before and three hours after the service. Under previous law, demonstrations were banned one hour before and after a service.
Body parts: SB 187 requires more stringent chain-of-custody documentation for the transportation of bodies and body parts. The law was prompted by a 2007 incident in which a truck full of embalmed human heads used for medical training was found on a Texas highway without documentation.
For a full list of news laws, visit Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx.
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