89R13537 MCF-F
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 5383
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the requirements for appointment as a medical examiner
  or employment as a deputy medical examiner.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 2(a) and (b), Article 49.25, Code of
  Criminal Procedure, are 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.
         (b)  The [To the greatest extent possible, the] medical
  examiner shall be appointed from persons having training and
  experience in anatomic and forensic pathology, toxicology,
  histology and other medico-legal sciences.
         SECTION 2.  Section 3, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 3.  ASSISTANTS. The medical examiner may, subject to
  the approval of the commissioners court, employ such 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.  A 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.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.