AUSTIN, Texas _ The Texas Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require doctors who perform abortions to provide immediate medical care, including hospitalization, in the rare instance of a live birth during the procedure.
House Bill 16, approved by the House in mid-April, will return to the lower chamber for consideration of a minor change adopted by senators Thursday.
Supporters of the bill have acknowledged that live births during an abortion are extremely rare but say the measure is important to promote a "culture of life" in Texas. They also say it is important for Texas to respond to recent political battles over allowing late-term abortions in New York and Virginia.
Under HB 16, doctors who decline to provide medical treatment could be charged with a third-degree felony and face a sentence of two to 10 years in prison. They also could be sued by the Texas attorney general to collect a civil penalty of "not less than $100,000."
In the Senate, which passed similar legislation in early April, there was minimal discussion of the House bill Thursday, with only Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, speaking in opposition. He said the bill was unnecessary and designed more to harass doctors than solve a real problem.
All 19 Republican senators voted in favor of HB 16, joined by two Democrats _ Sens. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
