Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1155 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R1715 KKR-D
2	2	By: Davis of Harris, Guerra H.B. No. 1155
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5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the cremation of human remains by alkaline hydrolysis.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Sections 711.001(7) and (8), Health and Safety
10	10	Code, are amended to read as follows:
11	11	(7) "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
12	12	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
13	13	fragments, through extreme heat and evaporation or through alkaline
14	14	hydrolysis. The process[, which] may include the processing or the
15	15	pulverization of bone fragments.
16	16	(8) "Crematory" means a structure containing a furnace
17	17	or alkaline hydrolysis vessel used or intended to be used for the
18	18	cremation of human remains. The term includes a facility that
19	19	cremates human remains through alkaline hydrolysis.
20	20	SECTION 2. Section 716.001(5), Health and Safety Code, is
21	21	amended to read as follows:
22	22	(5) "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
23	23	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
24	24	fragments, through direct flame, extreme heat, and evaporation or
25	25	through alkaline hydrolysis. The term may include pulverization,
26	26	which is the process of reducing identifiable bone fragments after
27	27	cremation and processing granulated particles by manual or
28	28	mechanical means.
29	29	SECTION 3. Section 716.002, Health and Safety Code, is
30	30	amended to read as follows:
31	31	Sec. 716.002. CREMATION RULES. (a) The commission may
32	32	adopt rules consistent with this chapter and Chapter 651,
33	33	Occupations Code, to govern the cremation of human remains.
34	34	(b) Notwithstanding this chapter and Chapter 651,
35	35	Occupations Code, the commission may modify cremation procedures
36	36	and requirements under Subchapter D to the extent necessary to
37	37	allow cremation through alkaline hydrolysis.
38	38	SECTION 4. Section 651.001(3), Occupations Code, is amended
39	39	to read as follows:
40	40	(3) "Crematory" means a structure containing a furnace
41	41	or alkaline hydrolysis vessel used or intended to be used for the
42	42	cremation of human remains. The term includes a facility that
43	43	cremates human remains through alkaline hydrolysis.
44	44	SECTION 5. Section 651.651(1), Occupations Code, is amended
45	45	to read as follows:
46	46	(1) "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
47	47	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
48	48	fragments, through direct flame, extreme heat, and evaporation or
49	49	through alkaline hydrolysis. The term may include pulverization,
50	50	which is the process of reducing identifiable bone fragments after
51	51	cremation and processing granulated particles by manual or
52	52	mechanical means.
53	53	SECTION 6. Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas
54	54	Funeral Service Commission shall adopt rules to implement the
55	55	changes in law made by this Act.
56	56	SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
57	57	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
58	58	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
59	59	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
60	60	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.