By: Patrick S.B. No. 530
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the disposition of cash in possession of a deceased
pauper.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 694.002, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows:
(c) If a county discovers cash in the possession of a
deceased pauper, a county may use the cash to pay the actual costs
incurred by the county in disposing of the pauper's body.
(d) If any cash remains after the county has paid the costs
of disposing of the body under Subsection (c), the county shall
place the cash in trust. A person having a claim to the money in
trust must exercise the right to collect the money not later than
the first anniversary of the date of disposition of the pauper's
body.
(e) A county may create a fund to be used by the county to
pay the costs incurred in disposing of the bodies of deceased
paupers and administering the county's body disposition
activities. If money placed in a trust under Subsection (d) is not
claimed by the first anniversary of the date of disposition of the
pauper's body, the county may transfer the money to the fund created
under this subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.