HBA-BSM S.B. 600 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 600
By: Sibley
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/19/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, a forensic anthropologist is required to be board
certified by a nationally recognized association that accredits
practitioners in the forensic sciences in order to aid, upon request, a
medical examiner in conducting a medical examination of the body of a
deceased person.  Some people feel that this requirement causes some in the
field of forensic science in Texas an undue and unnecessary burden because
many forensic anthropologists are not board certified.  Senate Bill 600
requires that a forensic anthropologist be eligible for board certification
rather than board certified in order to aid medical examiners in this
practice. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 600 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide that a
forensic anthropologist who examines the body of a deceased person must be
eligible for board certification by a nationally recognized association
that accredits practitioners in the forensic sciences. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.