Texas SB 1931: Relating to the removal of a decedent's remains.

Bill Text

By:AAHughesS.B.ANo.A1931
A BILLTO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relatingto the removalof a decedent
’s remains.
BE IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF TEXAS:
SECTION
A1.AASection711.004(a),HealthandSafetyCode,is
amendedto readas follows:
(a)
AARemainsinterredin a cemeterymaybe removedfroma
plotin thecemeterywiththewrittenconsentof thecemetery
organizationoperatingthe cemeteryand the writtenconsentof the
currentplotowneror ownersandthefollowingpersons,in the
prioritylisted:
(1)
AAthepersondesignatedin  a  writteninstrument
signedby the decedent,as describedby Section711.002(a)(1);
(2)
AAthe decedent’s survivingspouse;
(3)
AAanyoneof [(2)]thedecedent’s survivingadult
children;
(4)
AAeitheroneof  [(3)]thedecedent’s  surviving
parents;
(5)
AAanyoneof [(4)]thedecedent’s survivingadult
siblings;
(6)
AAanyoneof  thedulyqualifiedexecutorsor
administratorsof the decedent
’s estate;or
(7)
AAany[(5)the]adultpersonin thenextdegreeof
kinshipin theordernamedby lawto inherittheestateof the
decedent.
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87R5010MCF-F1

SECTIONA2.AASection711.002(b),HealthandSafetyCode,is
amendedto readas follows:
(b)
AAThe writteninstrumentreferredto in Subsection(a)(1)
may be in substantiallythe followingform:
APPOINTMENTFOR DISPOSITIONOF REMAINS
I, ,
(yournameand address)
beingof soundmind,willfullyand voluntarilymakeknownmy desire
that,uponmy  death,thedispositionof  my  remainsshallbe
controlledby
(nameof agent)
in accordancewithSections[Section]711.002and 711.004,Health
and SafetyCode,and,withrespectto thatsubjectonly,I hereby
appointsuchpersonas my agent(attorney-in-fact).
Alldecisionsmadeby  my  agentwithrespectto  the
dispositionof my remains,includingcremation,shallbe binding.
SPECIALDIRECTIONS:
Set forthbeloware any specialdirectionslimitingthe power
grantedto my agent:
AGENT:
Name:
Address:
TelephoneNumber:
SUCCESSORS:
If my agentor a successoragentdies,becomeslegally
disabled,resigns,or refusesto act,or if my marriageto my agent
or successoragentis dissolvedby divorce,annulled,or declared
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S.B.
ANo.A1931
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voidbeforemy deathandthisinstrumentdoesnotstatethatthe
agentor successoragentcontinuesto serveaftermy marriageto
thatagentor successoragentis dissolvedby divorce,annulled,or
declaredvoid,I herebyappointthe followingpersons(eachto act
aloneandsuccessively,in theordernamed)to serveas my agent
(attorney-in-fact)to controlthedispositionof my remainsas
authorizedby thisdocument:
1.
AAFirstSuccessor
Name:
Address:
TelephoneNumber:
2.
AASecondSuccessor
Name:
Address:
TelephoneNumber:
DURATION:
Thisappointmentbecomeseffectiveuponmy death.
PRIORAPPOINTMENTSREVOKED:
I herebyrevokeanypriorappointmentof anypersonto
controlthe dispositionof my remains.
RELIANCE:
I herebyagreethatanycemeteryorganization,business
operatinga crematoryor columbariumor both,funeraldirectoror
embalmer,or funeralestablishmentwhoreceivesa copyof this
documentmay act underit. Any modificationor revocationof this
documentis noteffectiveas to anysuchpartyuntilthatparty
receivesactualnoticeof the modificationor revocation.No such
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partyshallbe liablebecauseof relianceon a copyof this
document.
ASSUMPTION:
THEAGENT,ANDEACHSUCCESSORAGENT,BY  ACCEPTINGTHIS
APPOINTMENT,ASSUMESTHE OBLIGATIONSPROVIDEDIN, AND IS BOUNDBY
THE PROVISIONSOF, SECTION711.002,HEALTHAND SAFETYCODE.
SIGNATURES:
Thiswritteninstrumentand my appointmentsof an agentand
anysuccessoragentin thisinstrumentarevalidwithoutthe
signatureof my agentand any successoragentsbelow.Eachagent,or
a  successoragent,actingpursuantto  thisappointmentmust
indicateacceptanceof theappointmentby signingbelowbefore
actingas my agent.
Signedthis________day of _________________,20___.
(yoursignature)
Stateof ____________________
Countyof ___________________
Thisdocumentwas acknowledgedbeforeme on ______(date)by
_____________________________(nameof principal).
_________________________________
(signatureof notarialofficer)
(Seal,if any,of notary)
_________________________________
(printedname)
My commissionexpires:
_________________________________
ACCEPTANCEAND ASSUMPTIONBY AGENT:
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I  haveno  knowledgeof  or  anyreasonto  believethis
Appointmentfor Dispositionof Remainshas beenrevoked.I hereby
accepttheappointmentmadeinthisinstrumentwiththe
understandingthatI willbe individuallyliablefor the reasonable
costofthedecedent
’s  interment,forwhichI  mayseek
reimbursementfromthe decedent
’s estate.
Acceptanceof Appointment:
(signatureof agent)
Dateof Signature:
Acceptanceof Appointment:
(signatureof firstsuccessor)
Dateof Signature:
Acceptanceof Appointment:
(signatureof secondsuccessor)
Dateof Signature:
SECTION
A3.AASection711.002,HealthandSafetyCode,as
amendedby thisAct,appliesonlyto thevalidityof a written
instrumentexecutedon or