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 [BURIAL OF] PAUPERS.  (a)  The
 1-8     commissioners court of each county shall provide for the
 1-9     disposition of the body of a deceased pauper.  The commissioners
1-10     court may adopt rules to implement this section [interment or
1-11     cremation of paupers.  A pauper may not be cremated if a relative
1-12     or friend expresses objection to this procedure].
1-13           (b)  The commissioners court shall consider any information,
1-14     including the religious affiliation of the deceased pauper,
1-15     provided by a person listed in Section 711.002(a).
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2301 was passed by the House on April
         16, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2301 on May 19, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2301 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 17, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor