By Zaffirini S.B. No. 502
75R1891 SKB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to autopsies performed on a body if the deceased was a
1-3 child younger than six years of age.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 49.10(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (e) A justice of the peace shall order an autopsy performed
1-8 on a body if:
1-9 (1) the justice determines that an autopsy is
1-10 necessary to determine or confirm the nature and cause of death;
1-11 (2) the deceased was a child younger than six years of
1-12 age and the death is determined [was reported] under Section
1-13 264.514 [Chapter 264], Family Code, to be unexpected; or
1-14 (3) directed to do so by the district attorney,
1-15 criminal district attorney, or, if there is no district or criminal
1-16 district attorney, the county attorney.
1-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
1-18 applies only to a death of a child younger than six years of age
1-19 that occurs on or after September 1, 1997. A death of a child that
1-20 occurs before September 1, 1997, is governed by the law as it
1-21 existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that
1-22 law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-23 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.