By Hirschi                                            H.B. No. 1860

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the disposition of the body of a deceased pauper.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 694.002, Health and Safety Code, is

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 694.002.  DUTY OF COMMISSIONERS COURT CONCERNING

 1-7     DISPOSITION OF BODY OF DECEASED PAUPER [BURIAL OF PAUPERS].  The

 1-8     commissioners court of each county shall provide for the

 1-9     disposition of the body of a deceased pauper [interment or

1-10     cremation of paupers].  [A pauper may not be cremated if a relative

1-11     or friend expresses objection to this procedure.]

1-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.