By: Hughes S.B. No. 1300
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the disposition and removal of a decedent's remains.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 711.004(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Remains interred in a cemetery may be removed from a
  plot in the cemetery with the written consent of the cemetery
  organization operating the cemetery and the written consent of the
  current plot owner or owners and the following persons, in the
  priority listed:
               (1)  the person designated in a written instrument
  signed by the decedent, as described by Section 711.002(a)(1);
               (2)  the decedent's surviving spouse;
               (3)  any one of [(2)] the decedent's surviving adult
  children;
               (4)  either one of [(3)] the decedent's surviving
  parents;
               (5)  any one of [(4)] the decedent's surviving adult
  siblings;
               (6)  any one of the duly qualified executors or
  administrators of the decedent's estate; or
               (7)  any [(5) the] adult person in the next degree of
  kinship in the order named by law to inherit the estate of the
  decedent.
         SECTION 2.  Section 711.002(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The written instrument referred to in Subsection (a)(1)
  may be in substantially the following form:
  APPOINTMENT FOR DISPOSITION OF REMAINS
         I, ____________________________________________________,
  (your name and address)
  being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desire
  that, upon my death, the disposition of my remains shall be
  controlled by _________________________________________________
  (name of agent)
  in accordance with Sections [Section] 711.002 and 711.004, Health
  and Safety Code, and, with respect to that subject only, I hereby
  appoint such person as my agent (attorney-in-fact).
         All decisions made by my agent with respect to the
  disposition of my remains, including cremation, shall be binding.
  SPECIAL DIRECTIONS:
         Set forth below are any special directions limiting the power
  granted to my agent:
  ________________________________________________________________
  ________________________________________________________________
  ________________________________________________________________
  ________________________________________________________________
  ________________________________________________________________
  AGENT:
         Name: ____________________________________________________
         Address: _________________________________________________
         Telephone Number: ________________________________________
  SUCCESSORS:
         If my agent or a successor agent dies, becomes legally
  disabled, resigns, or refuses to act, or if my marriage to my agent
  or successor agent is dissolved by divorce, annulled, or declared
  void before my death and this instrument does not state that the
  agent or successor agent continues to serve after my marriage to
  that agent or successor agent is dissolved by divorce, annulled, or
  declared void, I hereby appoint the following persons (each to act
  alone and successively, in the order named) to serve as my agent
  (attorney-in-fact) to control the disposition of my remains as
  authorized by this document:
         1.  First Successor
         Name: ____________________________________________________
         Address: _________________________________________________
         Telephone Number: ________________________________________
         2.  Second Successor
         Name: ____________________________________________________
         Address: _________________________________________________
         Telephone Number: ________________________________________
  DURATION:
         This appointment becomes effective upon my death.
  PRIOR APPOINTMENTS REVOKED:
         I hereby revoke any prior appointment of any person to
  control the disposition of my remains.
  RELIANCE:
         I hereby agree that any cemetery organization, business
  operating a crematory or columbarium or both, funeral director or
  embalmer, or funeral establishment who receives a copy of this
  document may act under it.  Any modification or revocation of this
  document is not effective as to any such party until that party
  receives actual notice of the modification or revocation.  No such
  party shall be liable because of reliance on a copy of this
  document.
  ASSUMPTION:
         THE AGENT, AND EACH SUCCESSOR AGENT, BY ACCEPTING THIS
  APPOINTMENT, ASSUMES THE OBLIGATIONS PROVIDED IN, AND IS BOUND BY
  THE PROVISIONS OF, SECTIONS [SECTION] 711.002 AND 711.004, HEALTH
  AND SAFETY CODE.
  SIGNATURES:
         This written instrument and my appointments of an agent and
  any successor agent in this instrument are valid without the
  signature of my agent and any successor agents below.  Each agent,
  or a successor agent, acting pursuant to this appointment must
  indicate acceptance of the appointment by signing below before
  acting as my agent.
         Signed this ________ day of _________________, 20___.
  ___________________
  (your signature)
  State of ____________________
  County of ___________________
         This document was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by
  _____________________________ (name of principal).
  _________________________________
  (signature of notarial officer)
  (Seal, if any, of notary)
  _________________________________
  (printed name)
  My commission expires:
  _________________________________
  ACCEPTANCE AND ASSUMPTION BY AGENT:
         I have no knowledge of or any reason to believe this
  Appointment for Disposition of Remains has been revoked. I hereby
  accept the appointment made in this instrument with the
  understanding that I will be individually liable for the reasonable
  cost of the decedent's interment, for which I may seek
  reimbursement from the decedent's estate.
         Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________
  (signature of agent)
         Date of Signature: _______________________________________
         Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________
  (signature of first successor)
         Date of Signature: _______________________________________
         Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________
  (signature of second successor)
         Date of Signature: ________________________________________
         SECTION 3.  Section 711.002, Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to the validity of a written
  instrument executed on or after the effective date of this Act. The
  validity of a written instrument executed before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  instrument was executed, and that law continues in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.