Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 49A.118 · Subchapter C. INQUESTS BY MEDICAL EXAMINER
CREMATION.
Not yet in force
Text of article effective on April 01, 2027
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A body on which an inquest is authorized by this subchapter may not be cremated unless the body is identified and:
(1) an autopsy was performed as provided by this subchapter; or
(2) an autopsy was not necessary.
(b) Before a body may be cremated, the owner or operator of the crematory shall demand, and the medical examiner of the county in which the death occurred shall provide, a certificate that is signed by the medical examiner and that shows:
(1) an autopsy was performed on the body; or
(2) an autopsy was not necessary.
(c) Before providing a certificate under Subsection (b), the medical examiner shall determine whether, from all the circumstances surrounding the death, an autopsy is necessary.
(d) The owner or operator of a crematory shall preserve a certificate provided by a medical examiner under this article for a period of two years after the cremation date for the body.
(e) An autopsy by the medical examiner is not required as a prerequisite to cremation if the person's death was caused by:
(1) Asiatic cholera;
(2) bubonic plague;
(3) typhus fever; or
(4) smallpox.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 1610), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.49A.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 431310a0333a9755fb656d67776a91cdeda57d59855abfb57a822a94eacd6197
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
Cited by 1 provision
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