BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 723
	By: Patterson et al. (Paxton)
	Health & Human Services
	4/16/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, there is no law that requires the next of kin to be notified when a family member's cause of death on their death certificate is changed. H.B. 723 requires that the next of kin be contacted when the cause of death on a loved one's death certificate is amended.

H.B. 723 amends current law relating to notice of a modification to the medical certification information on certain death certificates.

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.� Authorizes this Act to be cited as Marilyn's Law.

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 193, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 193.012, as follows:

Sec. 193.012.� NOTICE OF CERTAIN DEATH CERTIFICATE AMENDMENTS.� Requires a person who submits to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) a request for an amendment to modify the medical certification information on the certificate, for a death certificate that is not a pending death certificate, to provide in the manner prescribed by DSHS written notice of the modification to a decedent's next of kin.

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.