| | | Sec. 1. Bureau of Health study. Resolved: That the Department of Health | | and Human Services, Bureau of Health shall conduct a study, with | | the voluntary cooperation of medical service providers and | | patients and safeguarding the autonomy of patients, of the | | effectiveness and quality of reproductive counseling required for | | minors under current law. The study must include the following. |
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| | | 1. Predisposition of client. The study must identify whether | | each client approaches the counseling with any predisposition | | with regard to choosing an abortion or carrying the pregnancy to | | term. |
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| | | 2. Neutrality and appropriateness. The study must examine | | whether the content and presentation of information regarding | | both medical and psychological aspects of an abortion as well as | | responses to the client's questions are nondirective, objective | | and factual with regard to choosing an abortion or carrying the | | pregnancy to term. The study must also examine whether the | | information and answers are appropriately geared to the level of | | understanding of each particular client. |
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| | | 3. Outcome. The study must identify the number of abortions | | performed or induced after counseling, as well as the number of | | clients counseled who did not choose to have an abortion | | performed or induced. |
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| | | 4. Assessment of effectiveness of counseling. The study must | | assess the effectiveness of counseling. Effectiveness must be | | determined by examining whether each client received and | | comprehended the information to make an informed decision whether | | to have an abortion; and be it further |
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| | | Sec. 2. Funding. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human | | Services, Bureau of Health may seek outside funds to fully fund | | all costs of the study. Contributions to support the study may | | not be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested | | interest in the outcome of the matters being studied; and be it | | further |
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| | | Sec. 3. Report and recommendations. Resolved: That the Department of | | Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health shall report its | | recommendations to the joint standing committee of the | | Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters no later | | than February 1, 2007. The Bureau of Health shall include any | | recommendations for changes in procedures, rules and law. The | | joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction | | over judiciary matters may report out legislation to the 123rd | | Legislature related to the findings and recommendations. |
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