Relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies.

89(R) SB 2023 - Senate Committee Report version - Bill Text

By: Blanco

S.B. No. 2023

(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2025; March 17, 2025, read

first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;

April 14, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,

Nays 2; April 14, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the

disposition of deceased paupers' bodies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 694, Health and Safety Code, is amended

by adding Section 694.004 to read as follows:

Sec.

694.004.

DECEASED PAUPERS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The

Health and Human Services Commission may 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.

(b)

The Health and Human Services Commission may award a

grant under the grant program to a county to be used for:

(1)

paying the costs incurred in disposing of deceased

paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002; and

(2)

administering the county's body disposition

activities.

(c)

The deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated

account in the general revenue fund and consists of:

(1)

appropriations of money to the account by the

legislature;

(2)

gifts, grants, and other donations received for

the account; and

(3)

interest earned on the investment of money in the

account.

(d)

Money in the deceased paupers grant account may be used

by the Health and Human Services Commission only to:

(1) award grants under this section; and

(2)

administer the deceased paupers grant program

under this section.

(e)

If the Health and Human Services Commission develops a

deceased paupers grant program under this section, the executive

commissioner shall adopt rules for the administration of that

program.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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