By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 571

(In the Senate - Filed January 28, 2009; February 23, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; March 30, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 30, 2009, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a crematory establishment's authority to accept for cremation unidentified human remains.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 716.101, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 716.101. UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a [A] crematory establishment may not accept for cremation unidentified human remains.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a crematory establishment may accept for cremation unidentified human remains from a county on the order of:

(1) the county commissioners court; or

(2) a court located in the county.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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