Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

§ 49.25 — MEDICAL EXAMINERS

CR § 49.25Title 1. CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · Ch. 49. INQUESTS UPON DEAD BODIES · Art. B. DUTIES PERFORMED BY MEDICAL EXAMINERS

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Sec. 1. OFFICE AUTHORIZED. Subject to the provisions of this article, the commissioners court of any county having a population of more than 2.5 million shall establish and maintain the office of medical examiner, and the commissioners court of any county may establish and provide for the maintenance of the office of medical examiner. Population shall be according to the last preceding federal census. Sec. 1-a. MULTI-COUNTY DISTRICT; JOINT OFFICE. (a) The commissioners courts of two or more counties 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.

(b)There may be only one medical examiner in a medical examiners district, although he may employ, within the district, necessary staff personnel. When a county becomes a part of a medical examiners district, the effect is the same within the county as if the office of medical examiner had been established in that county alone. The district medical examiner has all the powers and duties within the district that a medical examiner who serves in a single county has within that county.

(c)The commissioners court of any county which has become a part of a medical examiners district may withdraw the county from the district, but twelve months' notice of withdrawal must be given to the commissioners courts of all other counties in the district. Sec. 2. APPOINTMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The commissioners court shall appoint the medical examiner, who serves at the pleasure of the commissioners court. A person appointed as the medical examiner must be:

(1)a physician licensed by the Texas Medical Board; or

(2)a person who:

(A)is licensed and in good standing as a physician in another state;

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Legislative history

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 459 (H.B. 4490), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.