LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 3, 2003

TO:	Honorable Jaime Capelo, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2989 by Capelo (Relating to an inquest when a body part is found.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a justice of the peace to conduct an inquest into the death of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if the body or a body part of a person is found. Other requirements regarding the finding or possession of a body part are also delineated in the proposed statute. The bill would take effect September 1, 2003 and apply only to the discovery of a body part of a person that is made on or after that date.

Under existing law, the requirements of the proposed amendments to statute apply to a whole body. The bill would require that processes related to dealing with a whole dead body would also apply to a body part.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:	JK, EB, DLBa