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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for appointment as a medical examiner |
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or employment as a deputy medical examiner. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 2(a) and (b), Article 49.25, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commissioners court shall appoint the medical |
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examiner, who serves at the pleasure of the commissioners court. A |
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person appointed as the medical examiner must: |
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(1) hold a certification in anatomic pathology and |
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forensic pathology issued by the American Board of Pathology; and |
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(2) either be: |
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(A) [(1)] a physician licensed by the Texas |
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Medical Board; or |
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(B) [(2)] a person who: |
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(i) [(A)] is licensed and in good standing |
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as a physician in another state; |
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(ii) [(B)] has applied to the Texas Medical |
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Board for a license to practice medicine in this state; and |
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(iii) [(C)] has been granted a provisional |
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license under Section 155.101, Occupations Code. |
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(b) The [To the greatest extent possible, the] medical |
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examiner shall be appointed from persons having training and |
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experience in anatomic and forensic pathology, toxicology, |
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histology and other medico-legal sciences. |
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SECTION 2. Section 3, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 3. ASSISTANTS. The medical examiner may, subject to |
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the approval of the commissioners court, employ such deputy medical |
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examiners, scientific experts, trained technicians, officers and |
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employees as may be necessary to the proper performance of the |
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duties imposed by this Article upon the medical examiner. A deputy |
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medical examiner employed under this section must hold or be |
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eligible to hold a certification issued by the American Board of |
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Pathology in anatomic pathology and forensic pathology. |
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SECTION 3. A person is not required to comply with Article |
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49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, until |
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January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |