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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of fentanyl poisoning for purposes of |
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the death certificate. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 193.005, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows: |
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(e-1) The medical certification on a death certificate must |
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include the term "Fentanyl Poisoning" if: |
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(1) a toxicology examination reveals a controlled |
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substance listed in Penalty Group 1-B present in the body of the |
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decedent in an amount or concentration that is considered to be |
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lethal by generally accepted scientific standards; and |
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(2) the results of an autopsy performed on the |
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decedent are consistent with an opioid overdose as the cause of |
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death. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a death that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act, or |
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a death that occurs before that date but is discovered on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |