Sec. 54.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall establish the Thriving Texas Families Program as a continuation of the alternatives to abortion program to facilitate the operation of a statewide support network that provides: (1) community outreach, consultation, and care coordination for women with an unexpected pregnancy; and (2) an alternative to abortion through life-affirming pregnancy, adoption, and parenting and family support services. (b) The Thriving Texas Families Program shall: (1) promote healthy pregnancy and childbirth; (2) promote childbirth as an alternative to abortion; (3) increase access to resources that promote family and child development; (4) encourage family formation; (5) help parents establish and implement successful parenting techniques; (6) increase the number of families who achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (7) provide a local approach and personalized support to pregnant women to promote childbirth in all instances of pregnancy. (c) The commission shall contract with network contractors to establish a statewide network of service providers, including pregnancy support centers, adoption assistance providers, and maternity homes, to provide the services described by Section 54.003 . The commission may contract with the service providers to provide the services in accordance with this chapter. (d) In developing the statewide network of service providers, the commission shall: (1) to the extent practicable, contract with providers who have a history of working with the commission in programs similar to the program created by this chapter; and (2) ensure that service providers are not associated with an abortion services provider and do not provide, refer patients to, advocate for, or promote abortion services by verifying the provider: (A) remains a legally separate entity from any abortion services provider and does not enter into any legal relationship with any abortion services provider; (B) does not contract with or transfer any money, through gift or payment, to an abortion services provider or affiliate; (C) does not share any employees or members of its governing body with an abortion services provider or affiliate; (D) does not recommend abortion as an option for a client; and (E) does not display or use the names or trademarks of an abortion services provider in describing or naming the provider under this program. (f) Each network contractor and service provider shall annually certify in writing to the commission that the network contractor or service provider: (1) upholds the life-affirming mission of the program; and (2) is not involved in activities contradicting the program's objective of offering an alternative to abortion.
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