HBA-NRS H.B. 1719 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1719 By: Eiland Public Health 3/20/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Some hospitals and health care providers ban the use of recording devices in the delivery room during the birth of a child. A growing number of hospitals and doctors, fearing that videotapes can provide evidence against them in malpractice suits, have banned cameras from delivery rooms. House Bill 1719 prohibits a health care provider, hospital, or birthing center from prohibiting a person from using a recording device to record the delivery of a child. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1719 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit a health care provider, hospital, or birthing center from prohibiting a person from using a recording device to record the delivery of a child. The bill provides that a violation by a health care provider, hospital, or birthing center is subject to the same consequence as a violation of the licensing law applicable to the health care provider, hospital, or birthing center or of a rule adopted under that licensing law. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.