BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2023 89R13724 EAS-D By: Blanco Health & Human Services 4/4/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Under Section 694.002 of the Health and Safety Code, commissioners courts are obligated to pay for the disposal of the bodies of deceased individuals who are unable to afford funeral services or "deceased paupers." Over the last few years, El Paso County has seen an unprecedented increase in pauper burial costs, rising from $27,135 in FY18 to over $173,925 in FY23, partly due to COVID-19. Even post pandemic, costs remain high, with 154 cases recorded as of July 30, 2024, amounting to an increase of 115 deaths compared to FY18's 39 deaths. All of these costs do not take into account increased costs from community services, public works, and medical examiner staff. S.B. 2023 seeks to establish a grant program, administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, to help counties cover the costs of disposing of deceased paupers' bodies. A dedicated grant account would fund these costs and the administration of the program. The bill allows money from this account to be used only for awarding grants and running the grant program itself, ensuring counties receive financial support to fulfill their responsibilities under the Health and Safety Code. As proposed, S.B. 2023 amends current law relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 694.004, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 694, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 694.004, as follows: Sec. 694.004. DECEASED PAUPERS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a deceased paupers grant program to award grants from the deceased paupers grant account established by this section to counties for the purpose of paying certain costs associated with the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002 (Duty of Commissioners Court Concerning Disposition of Body of Deceased Paupers). (b) Authorizes HHSC to award a grant under the grant program to a county to be used for paying the costs incurred in disposing of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002 and administering the county's body disposition activities. (c) Provides that the deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of appropriations of money to the account by the legislature, gifts, grants, and other donations received for the account, and interest earned on the investment of money in the account. (d) Provides that money in the deceased paupers grant account is authorized to be used by HHSC only to award grants under this section and administer the deceased paupers grant program under this section. (e) Requires the executive commissioner of HHSC, if HHSC develops a deceased paupers grant program under this section, to adopt rules for the administration of that program. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2023
89R13724 EAS-D By: Blanco
Health & Human Services
4/4/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2023
89R13724 EAS-D
By: Blanco
Health & Human Services
4/4/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under Section 694.002 of the Health and Safety Code, commissioners courts are obligated to pay for the disposal of the bodies of deceased individuals who are unable to afford funeral services or "deceased paupers." Over the last few years, El Paso County has seen an unprecedented increase in pauper burial costs, rising from $27,135 in FY18 to over $173,925 in FY23, partly due to COVID-19. Even post pandemic, costs remain high, with 154 cases recorded as of July 30, 2024, amounting to an increase of 115 deaths compared to FY18's 39 deaths. All of these costs do not take into account increased costs from community services, public works, and medical examiner staff.
S.B. 2023 seeks to establish a grant program, administered by the Health and Human Services Commission, to help counties cover the costs of disposing of deceased paupers' bodies. A dedicated grant account would fund these costs and the administration of the program. The bill allows money from this account to be used only for awarding grants and running the grant program itself, ensuring counties receive financial support to fulfill their responsibilities under the Health and Safety Code.
As proposed, S.B. 2023 amends current law relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 694.004, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 694, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 694.004, as follows:
Sec. 694.004. DECEASED PAUPERS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a deceased paupers grant program to award grants from the deceased paupers grant account established by this section to counties for the purpose of paying certain costs associated with the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002 (Duty of Commissioners Court Concerning Disposition of Body of Deceased Paupers).
(b) Authorizes HHSC to award a grant under the grant program to a county to be used for paying the costs incurred in disposing of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002 and administering the county's body disposition activities.
(c) Provides that the deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of appropriations of money to the account by the legislature, gifts, grants, and other donations received for the account, and interest earned on the investment of money in the account.
(d) Provides that money in the deceased paupers grant account is authorized to be used by HHSC only to award grants under this section and administer the deceased paupers grant program under this section.
(e) Requires the executive commissioner of HHSC, if HHSC develops a deceased paupers grant program under this section, to adopt rules for the administration of that program.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.