By:  Coleman                                                      H.B. No. 3216



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to report of inmate death.                                           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 501.055, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 501.055.  (c)  If an inmate dies as described by 
Subsection (b)(1), the department or an authorized official of the 
department shall immediately attempt to notify the next of kin of 
the inmate that the inmate has died, state the time of the inmate's 
death, and inform the next of kin that unless the next of kin 
objects to the department within eight hours of the [stated time of 
death], actual notice of death by the department to the next of kin 
an autopsy will be conducted on the inmate.  The department shall 
not allow the cremation of any inmate who dies as described by 
Subsection (b)(1) without the express written consent of the next 
of kin.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.