79R12936 MCK-D


By:  Leibowitz                                                    H.B. No. 1460

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1460:                                   

By:  Bailey                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 1460



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to release of autopsy reports in relation to a workers' 
compensation or insurance claim.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 671.013, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to 
read as follows:
	(a)  An autopsy report shall be released on request to an 
authorized person in connection with the determination of the cause 
of death in relation to a workers' compensation or insurance claim. 
Except as provided by Subsection (d), the report shall be released 
not later than the 15th business day after the date the request is 
received from the authorized person.
	(d)  If the report has not been filed as provided by Section 
671.012, a representative of the office designated by the autopsy 
order shall, not later than the 10th business day after the date of 
the request, notify the requesting person that the report has not 
been filed and of the date, to the best of the knowledge of the 
representative, that the requesting person may anticipate 
receiving the report.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.