Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4179 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/08/2019

                    86R16847 EAS-F
 By: Miller H.B. No. 4179


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the cemeteries in certain counties.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 713, Health and Safety
 Code, is amended by adding Section 713.0271 to read as follows:
 Sec. 713.0271.  CEMETERY OWNED BY CERTAIN COUNTIES. A
 county with a population of more than 550,000 that borders a county
 with a population of more than 3.3 million may own, operate, and
 maintain a cemetery.
 SECTION 2.  Section 713.028(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  For purposes of historical preservation or public
 health, safety, or welfare, a commissioners court may use public
 funds, county employees, county inmate labor as provided by Article
 43.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, and county equipment to maintain
 a cemetery that is at least [has a grave marker more than] 50 years
 old.
 SECTION 3.  Section 713.026(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  Except as provided by Sections 713.027, 713.0271, and
 713.028, a trustee of a fund established under this subchapter or a
 member of the commissioners court or any other elected county
 officer may not pay or use public funds or county employees,
 equipment, or property to maintain a neglected or unkept public or
 private cemetery.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.