SRC-JBJ S.B. 600 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 600
By: Sibley
Criminal Justice
5/17/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under Texas law, a forensic anthropologist is required to be
board-certified by a nationally recognized association that accredits
practitioners in the forensic sciences in order to aid, upon request, a
medical examiner in conducting a medical examination of the body of a
deceased person.  This requirement causes some in the field of forensic
science in Texas an undue and unnecessary burden because many forensic
anthropologists are not board-certified. S.B. 600 requires that a forensic
anthropologist be eligible for board certification, rather than be
board-certified, in order to aid medical examiners in this practice. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 49.10(n), Code of Criminal Procedure, to require
that in order to assist a medical examiner a forensic anthropologist must
be eligible for board certification, rather than board certified, by a
nationally recognized association that accredits practitioners in the
forensic sciences. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.