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89(R) HB 5383 - Engrossed version - Bill Text
89R25953 MCF-F
By: Oliverson
H.B. No. 5383
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the requirements for appointment as a medical examiner
or employment as an assistant or deputy medical examiner.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2(a), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioners court shall appoint the medical
examiner, who serves at the pleasure of the commissioners court. A
person appointed as the medical examiner must
:
(1)
hold a certification in anatomic pathology and
forensic pathology issued by the American Board of Pathology; and
(2) either
be:
(A)
[
(1)
] a physician licensed by the Texas
Medical Board; or
(B)
[
(2)
] a person who:
(i)
[
(A)
] is licensed and in good standing
as a physician in another state;
(ii)
[
(B)
] has applied to the Texas Medical
Board for a license to practice medicine in this state; and
(iii)
[
(C)
] has been granted a provisional
license under Section 155.101, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Section 3, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. ASSISTANTS
, DEPUTIES, AND OTHER PERSONNEL;
QUALIFICATIONS
.
(a)
The medical examiner may, subject to the
approval of the commissioners court, employ such
assistant or
deputy
medical
examiners, scientific experts, trained technicians,
officers and employees as may be necessary to the proper
performance of the duties imposed by this Article upon the medical
examiner.
(b)
An assistant or deputy medical examiner employed under
this section must hold or be eligible to hold a certification issued
by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic pathology and
forensic pathology.
SECTION 3. Section 2(b), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is repealed.
SECTION 4. A person is not required to comply with Article
49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, until
January 1, 2026.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.