Senate Bill 8 Makes Nurses a Target

For Immediate Release

September 9, 2021

Contact:

Caitlyn Gonzales
Texas Nurses Association
cgonzales@texasnurses.org
512.452.0648 ext. 121

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Senate Bill 8 Makes Nurses a Target

Texas Nurses Association opposes legislation that could harm providers

The Texas Nurses Association stands in solidarity with our provider colleagues in opposition to Senate Bill 8, from the 87th Legislative Session. This bill creates civil penalties for providers acting within their ethical guidelines and standards of practice. Worse, it “deputizes” Texans who are expected to be the enforcement mechanism under this bill.

Nurses who “aid and abet,” or are even suspected of aiding and abetting, an abortion procedure could be subject to up to $10,000 dollars in fines. At a time when providers, and particularly nurses, have put everything on the line to care for Texas patients, it is unfathomable that the legislature would even consider putting politics before the wellbeing of nurses in this way.

Texas is facing one of the most severe nursing shortages in history. The state has responded by putting a bounty on their head. We proudly echo the sentiment of our physician colleagues: enough is enough.