| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the |
|
|
disposition of deceased paupers' bodies. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 694, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 694.004 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 694.004. DECEASED PAUPERS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
|
|
Health and Human Services Commission may develop a deceased paupers |
|
|
grant program to award grants from the deceased paupers grant |
|
|
account established by this section to counties for the purpose of |
|
|
paying certain costs associated with the disposition of deceased |
|
|
paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002. |
|
|
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission may award a |
|
|
grant under the grant program to a county to be used for: |
|
|
(1) paying the costs incurred in disposing of deceased |
|
|
paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002; and |
|
|
(2) administering the county's body disposition |
|
|
activities. |
|
|
(c) The deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated |
|
|
account in the general revenue fund and consists of: |
|
|
(1) appropriations of money to the account by the |
|
|
legislature; |
|
|
(2) gifts, grants, and other donations received for |
|
|
the account; and |
|
|
(3) interest earned on the investment of money in the |
|
|
account. |
|
|
(d) Money in the deceased paupers grant account may be used |
|
|
by the Health and Human Services Commission only to: |
|
|
(1) award grants under this section; and |
|
|
(2) administer the deceased paupers grant program |
|
|
under this section. |
|
|
(e) If the Health and Human Services Commission develops a |
|
|
deceased paupers grant program under this section, the executive |
|
|
commissioner shall adopt rules for the administration of that |
|
|
program. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |