Texas Senate Bill SB1539

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/1/09
• Voted on by Senate: 4/9/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/23/09

Caption

Relating to in-casket identification of a deceased person.

Impact

If enacted, SB1539 would have implications for funeral services in Texas. The Texas Funeral Service Commission will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the identification requirements set forth in the bill. This could lead to standardized practices across funeral homes and cemeteries in Texas, promoting uniformity in how deceased persons are documented within caskets, thereby potentially reducing the risk of confusion or misidentification in the grieving and burial processes.

Summary

SB1539 establishes a requirement for identification of deceased individuals within caskets. This bill aims to amend the Texas Health and Safety Code by introducing Chapter 695, which mandates that every casket must contain specific identification information of the deceased, including their name, date of birth, and date of death. The main goal of this legislation is to ensure that there is a clear and consistent method for identifying deceased individuals, which can assist in various legal and procedural contexts related to death and burial.

Contention

One potential point of contention could arise from the operational burden placed on funeral service providers to implement and maintain these identification standards. Concerns may also be voiced regarding privacy and the handling of sensitive information related to deceased individuals. It is important for stakeholders in the industry to discuss and address these issues as the bill moves through the legislative process, ensuring that it meets both regulatory needs and respects the rights of the deceased and their families.