By Hirschi                                      H.B. No. 1860

      75R7827 T                           

                                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 [BURIAL

 1-7     OF PAUPERS] DISPOSITION OF THE BODY OF A DECEASED PAUPER.  The

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

 1-9     [internment or cremation of paupers] disposition of the body of a

1-10     deceased pauper.  [A pauper may not be cremated if a relative or

1-11     friend expresses objection to this procedure.]

1-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect on 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.