88R264 KKR-D
	By: A. Johnson of Harris	H.B. No. 2895

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the cremation of human remains by alkaline hydrolysis.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 711.001(11), (12), and (13), Health and
	Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(11)  "Cremated remains" or "cremains" means the
	essential elements, including bone fragments, remaining after the
	cremation process, which may include the residue of any foreign
	materials that were cremated with the human remains.
	(12)  "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
	fragments, through extreme heat and evaporation or through alkaline
	hydrolysis. The process[, which] may include the processing or the
	pulverization of bone fragments.
	(13)  "Crematory" means a structure containing a
	furnace or alkaline hydrolysis vessel used or intended to be used
	for the cremation of human remains. The term includes a facility
	that cremates human remains through alkaline hydrolysis.
	SECTION 2.  Section 716.001(5), Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(5)  "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
	fragments, through direct flame, extreme heat, and evaporation or
	through alkaline hydrolysis. The term may include pulverization,
	which is the process of reducing identifiable bone fragments after
	cremation and processing granulated particles by manual or
	mechanical means.
	SECTION 3.  Section 716.002, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 716.002.  CREMATION RULES. (a) The commission may
	adopt rules consistent with this chapter and Chapter 651,
	Occupations Code, to govern the cremation of human remains.
	(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and
	Chapter 651, Occupations Code, the commission may modify cremation
	procedures and requirements under Subchapter D to the extent
	necessary to allow cremation through alkaline hydrolysis.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 716, Health and Safety
	Code, is amended by adding Section 716.1525 to read as follows:
	Sec. 716.1525.  ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS CREMATION.
	Notwithstanding Sections 716.151 and 716.152, the commission by
	rule shall establish the requirements for cremation through
	alkaline hydrolysis, including rules for the cremation process and
	for containers used in the process.
	SECTION 5.  Section 651.001(3), Occupations Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(3)  "Crematory" means a structure containing a furnace
	or alkaline hydrolysis vessel used or intended to be used for the
	cremation of human remains. The term includes a facility that
	cremates human remains through alkaline hydrolysis.
	SECTION 6.  Section 651.651(1), Occupations Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(1)  "Cremation" means the irreversible process of
	reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone
	fragments, through direct flame, extreme heat, and evaporation or
	through alkaline hydrolysis. The term may include pulverization,
	which is the process of reducing identifiable bone fragments after
	cremation and processing granulated particles by manual or
	mechanical means.
	SECTION 7.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
	Funeral Service Commission shall adopt rules to implement the
	changes in law made by this Act.
	SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 711.001, Health and Safety Code 716.001, Health and Safety Code 716.002, Occupations Code 651.001, Occupations Code 651.651 (Health and Safety Code 711, Health and Safety Code 716, Occupations Code 651)