7.  Representative Rose (D-Dripping Springs) offered Amendment 4 to Amendment 2 adding exemptions for substantial risk of serious impairment to the physical health of the woman, and a severe and irreversible abnormality of the fetus.  The amendment was tabled by a record vote of 84-51 on May 16, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) is a vote against tabling the amendment.

8.  Representative Raymond (D-Laredo) offered Amendment 8 to Amendment 2 to add an exemption for situations when the woman is diagnosed with a significant likelihood of suffering imminent, severe, irreversible brain damage or paralysis.  The amendment was adopted on May 16, 2005 by a record vote of 116-13.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote for the amendment.

9. Representative Branch (R-Dallas) offered Amendment 9 to Amendment 2 to include an exemption for situations where the woman risks imminent, severe, and irreversible damage to a vital organ. The motion was tabled by a record vote of 83-55 on May 16, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) is a vote against tabling the amendment.

10.  Representative Rose (D-Dripping Springs) offered Amendment 10 to Amendment 2 including an exemption for situations when the woman is diagnosed with significant likelihood of suffering imminent, severe, and irreversible brain damage, vital organ damage, or paralysis.  The amendment was tabled by a record vote of 84-56 on May 16, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment.

11. Hijacking the Sunset Commission to Risk Minors’ Health and Safety. Representative Hartnett (R-Dallas) offered Amendment 11 to CSSB 419 to prevent a physician from being licensed and to subject a physician to disciplinary action for performing an abortion on a minor without the written consent of the minor’s parent or a judicial bypass order.  By threatening physicians who don’t get written parental consent with discipline, this amendment creates a de facto parental consent requirement for Texas teenagers.   Amendment 11 was amended by Amendment 13, providing an exemption for situations in which performing the abortion is necessary to prevent the death or serious risk of impairment of a major bodily function of the minor and there is insufficient time to obtain parental consent. Amendment 13 passed by voice vote. As amended, Amendment 11 was adopted by record vote of 117-19 on May 16, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against the amendment.

12.  Representative Dutton (D-Houston) offered Amendment 15 to Amendment 11 that added a reference to the judicial bypass provisions of the Family Code, and an exemption for situations in which an immediate abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the minor, or to avert substantial impairment to a major bodily function.  The amendment was tabled by a record vote of 94-44 on May 16, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment.

+ Special note about Texas House Vote on Parental Consent for Minors Seeking Abortion.  The House Committee on State Affairs reported SB 1150, requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortion, favorably without amendments on May 19, 2005, by a vote of 5-1 with 3 members absent.  SB 1150 did not include any of the increased courtroom hurdles as contained in HB 1212.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against the bill.  NARAL Pro-Choice Texas is extremely grateful to Representative Farrar who voted against this bill in the State Affairs Committee.   Her pro-choice vote against this bill is marked as a “+”; however, it is not included in the overall 2005 Texas House voting record ratings.

++ Special note about Texas House Votes on Reauthorization of the Board of Medical Examiners with Anti-Choice Amendments.  CSSB 419, reauthorized the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, and included two anti-choice amendments.  The first bans third trimester abortions when the fetus is viable, unless the abortion is necessary to prevent the woman’s death, the fetus has a severe irreversible brain impairment, or to prevent the woman from suffering imminent, severe, and irreversible brain damage or paralysis (perfectly clear, right?).  The second amendment requires minors to obtain parental consent for an abortion (instead of the existing requirement that they notify a parent).  SB 419 passed the House on a record vote of 121-12, on May 17, 2005.  A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against the bill.  NARAL Pro-Choice Texas is extremely grateful to the Representatives who voted against this bill.   Their pro-choice votes against this bill are marked as a “++”, however this vote is not included in the overall 2005 Texas House voting record ratings because of the many provisions of CSSB 419 that were unrelated to reproductive healthcare issues.