87R16300 SCL-F
 
  By: Turner of Dallas, Oliverson, Guerra H.B. No. 1011
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to expedited death certificates for religious purposes in
  certain counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 193, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 193.0025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 193.0025.  EXPEDITED DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR RELIGIOUS
  PURPOSES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a
  county:
               (1)  with an office of medical examiner established in
  accordance with Section 1, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure; and
               (2)  for which the commissioners court of the county by
  resolution elects for this section to apply.
         (b)  This section does not apply to a county that entered
  into an agreement with another county to create a medical examiners
  district under Section 1-a, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, unless:
               (1)  the office of medical examiner is located in the
  county and the county has adopted a resolution described by
  Subsection (a)(2); or
               (2)  notwithstanding Subsection (a), the county elects
  for this section to apply in the agreement creating the district.
         (c)  An individual may submit to the person required to file
  a death certificate under Section 193.002 a written request for the
  person to expedite the completion of a decedent's death certificate
  if the requestor demonstrates that:
               (1)  the expedited completion is necessary for
  religious purposes;
               (2)  the decedent's remains will be interred, entombed,
  buried, cremated, or otherwise laid to rest in a foreign country;
  and
               (3)  the requestor is authorized to obtain a copy of the
  death certificate.
         (d)  A person who receives a request under Subsection (c)
  shall issue a copy of the decedent's death certificate to the
  requestor not later than 48 hours after the time the person receives
  the request unless an inquest will be conducted for the decedent.
         (e)  For purposes of completing an expedited death
  certificate under this section, a medical examiner may:
               (1)  perform a medical examination; and
               (2)  complete the medical certification, provided:
                     (A)  the medical examiner has access to the
  decedent's medical history relevant to the death;
                     (B)  the decedent's death is due to natural
  causes; and
                     (C)  the medical examiner serves as medical
  examiner of the county in which the death occurred.
         (f)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
  to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Section 193.0025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.