Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 49A.203 · Subchapter E. INFORMED CONSENT FOR POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY IN ALL COUNTIES
PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONSENT TO POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OR AUTOPSY.
Not yet in force
Text of article effective on April 01, 2027
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) Subject to Subsections (b) and (c), consent for a postmortem examination or autopsy may be given by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the following order of priority:
(1) the spouse of the decedent;
(2) the person acting as guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of death or the executor or administrator of the decedent's estate;
(3) the adult children of the decedent;
(4) the parents of the decedent; and
(5) the adult siblings of the decedent.
(b) If two or more members of a class listed in Subsection (a)(2), (3), (4), or (5) are entitled to give consent to a postmortem examination or autopsy, consent may be given by one member of the class unless another member of the class files an objection with the physician, medical examiner, justice of the peace, or county judge. If an objection is filed, the consent may be given only by a majority of the members of the class who are reasonably available.
(c) A person may not give consent under this article if, at the time of the decedent's death, a person in a class granted higher priority under Subsection (a) is reasonably available to give consent or to file an objection to a postmortem examination or autopsy.
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 ede7ea577695e79335fd689cb0f312b7c0c8f09ff5c435228a35a95e6986c441
- 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 2 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 49A.203. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
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