The bill, S.B. No. 2023, proposes the establishment of a grant program aimed at supporting counties in the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies. It introduces a new section, 694.004, to the Health and Safety Code, which empowers the Health and Human Services Commission to create a deceased paupers grant program. This program will allow the commission to award grants from a newly established deceased paupers grant account to counties for covering costs associated with the proper disposal of these bodies, as outlined in Section 694.002. The bill specifies that the funds in this account will come from legislative appropriations, donations, and interest earned on the account.

Additionally, the bill details the permissible uses of the grant funds, which include paying for the costs of body disposition and administering the county's body disposition activities. It mandates that if the grant program is developed, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission must adopt rules for its administration. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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