HBA-JRA H.B. 2703 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2703 By: Reyna, Arthur Public Health 3/23/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Health and Safety Code provides a sample living will. However, the form does not specifically address the withholding of nutrition and hydration. H.B. 2703 amends the sample living will to include a paragraph relating to withholding nutrition and hydration in the event of a terminal condition and a determination of imminent death. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 672.004, Health and Safety Code, to add to the form of a written directive to physicians a paragraph relating to withholding nutrition and hydration in the event of a terminal condition and a determination of imminent death. Redesignates existing Paragraphs 2-6 of the directive to Paragraphs 3-7. Provides that the declarant must separately acknowledge Paragraph 2 of the directive in order for it to be valid. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.