89R25953 MCF-F
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 5383
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5383:
 
  By:  Bell of Montgomery C.S.H.B. No. 5383
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the requirements for appointment as a medical examiner
  or employment as an assistant or deputy medical examiner.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2(a), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioners court shall appoint the medical
  examiner, who serves at the pleasure of the commissioners court. A
  person appointed as the medical examiner must:
               (1)  hold a certification in anatomic pathology and
  forensic pathology issued by the American Board of Pathology; and
               (2)  either be:
                     (A) [(1)]  a physician licensed by the Texas
  Medical Board; or
                     (B) [(2)]  a person who:
                           (i) [(A)]  is licensed and in good standing
  as a physician in another state;
                           (ii) [(B)] has applied to the Texas Medical
  Board for a license to practice medicine in this state; and
                           (iii) [(C)] has been granted a provisional
  license under Section 155.101, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 3, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 3.  ASSISTANTS, DEPUTIES, AND OTHER PERSONNEL;
  QUALIFICATIONS. (a)  The medical examiner may, subject to the
  approval of the commissioners court, employ such assistant or 
  deputy medical examiners, scientific experts, trained technicians,
  officers and employees as may be necessary to the proper
  performance of the duties imposed by this Article upon the medical
  examiner.
         (b)  An assistant or deputy medical examiner employed under
  this section must hold or be eligible to hold a certification issued
  by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic pathology and
  forensic pathology.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2(b), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  A person is not required to comply with Article
  49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, until
  January 1, 2026.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.