By Farabee                                            H.B. No. 2301
         76R7546 MCK-D                           
                                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 [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.  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           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.