BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2274 By: Hudson 04-25-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently funeral establishments that have incurred costs for the care or transportation of a human corpse may not hold the human remains if the party authorized to make funeral arrangements desires to transfer the body from one funeral establishment to another. PURPOSE H.B. 2274 would allow funeral establishments to deny the release of a dead human body to a person or agent authorized to make arrangements for the deceased if that person or agent has failed to pay any costs incurred by the funeral establishment currently in possession of the body. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Adds Section 4A to Article 4582b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, allowing a funeral establishment that was permitted or authorized to provide funeral services for a deceased person to refuse to surrender the body to another person or authorized agent if the costs incurred by the funeral establishment for the care and preparation of the body have not been paid. Section 4A also states that failure to release a dead human body under this section is not a violation of this Act. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 2274 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a public hearing on April 25, 1995. The following persons testified in favor of the bill: Representative Hudson, author of the bill. Armetia Pinkston, representing self. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 5 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, and 4 ABSENT.