By: Turner of Dallas H.B. No. 3957
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to expedited death certificates for religious purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 193, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 193.0025 to read as follows:
Sec. 193.0025. PROCESS FOR EXPEDITED DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR
RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall
establish a process by which an individual may submit a written
request to the person required to file a death certificate under
Section 193.002 for the person to expedite the completion of a
decedent's death certificate if the requestor demonstrates that:
(1) the expedited completion is necessary for
religious purposes; and
(2) the requestor is authorized to receive the
certificate.
(b) The process must seek to enable a person required to
file a death certificate who receives a request under Subsection
(a) to issue a copy of a decedent's death certificate to the
requestor not later than 24 hours after the time the person receives
the request, provided an inquest will not be conducted for the
decedent.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
Section 193.0025, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.