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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to persons with the authority to donate a body to certain |
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entities for the advancement of medical or forensic science. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 691.023(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An officer, employee, or representative of the state, of |
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a political subdivision, or of an institution having charge or |
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control of a body not claimed for burial or a body required to be |
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buried at public expense shall: |
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(1) notify the commission or the commission's |
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representative of the body's existence when the body comes into the |
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person's possession, charge, or control if notified in writing to |
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do so by the commission or the commission's representative; and |
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(2) deliver the body in accordance with the direction |
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of the commission[; and |
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[(3) allow the commission, the commission's |
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representative, or a physician designated by the commission who |
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complies with this chapter to remove the body to be used for the |
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advancement of medical or forensic science]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 691, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 691.0235 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 691.0235. PERSONS WITH AUTHORITY TO DONATE BODY FOR |
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ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICAL OR FORENSIC SCIENCE. (a) Notwithstanding |
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any other provision of this chapter, and subject to Subsections (b) |
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and (c), a person may not donate a body not claimed for burial or a |
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body required to be buried at public expense to a willed body |
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program of a medical or dental school, a non-transplant anatomical |
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donation organization, or another donee authorized by the |
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commission to be used for the advancement of medical or forensic |
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science. |
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(b) A decedent's body may be donated to an entity described |
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by Subsection (a) by will or other written instrument in accordance |
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with Section 691.028. |
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(c) A person who may lawfully claim a decedent's body for |
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burial under Section 691.024 may provide informed consent for the |
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body to be donated to an entity described by Subsection (a). |
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(d) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |