HB 5131

relating to the establishment of the office of medical examiner in
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 1, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1.  OFFICE REQUIRED IN CERTAIN COUNTIES AND AUTHORIZED
IN OTHER COUNTIES.  Subject to the provisions of this article, the
commissioners court of any county with [having] a population of
more than one [2.5] million shall establish and maintain the office
of medical examiner, and the commissioners court of any county with
a population of less than one million may establish and provide for
the maintenance of the office of medical examiner.  Population
shall be according to the last preceding federal census.
SECTION 2.  Section 1-a(a), Article 49.25, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
(a)  The commissioners courts of two or more counties,
regardless of population size, may enter into an agreement to
create a medical examiners district and to jointly operate and
maintain the office of medical examiner of the district.  The
district must include the entire area of all counties
involved.  The counties within the district must, when taken
together, form a continuous area.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.