85R4045 YDB-D     By: Murr H.B. No. 799       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the persons authorized to conduct an inquest in certain   counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 27,   Government Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER C. CONDUCTING COURT AND INQUESTS          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 27.0545 to read as follows:          Sec. 27.0545.  EXCHANGE OF BENCHES: INQUESTS.  (a)  If a   justice of the peace or the county judge of a county to which   Subchapter A, Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies is   not available to conduct an inquest into a person's death occurring   in the county, the justice of the peace of the precinct in which the   death occurred or the county judge may request a justice of the   peace of another county to which that subchapter applies to conduct   the inquest.          (b)  A justice of the peace who on request conducts an   inquest under this section shall, not later than the fifth day after   the date the inquest is initiated, transfer all information related   to the inquest to the justice of the peace of the precinct in which   the death occurred for final disposition of the matter.          (c)  A justice of the peace who conducts an inquest under   this section is not entitled to receive from the commissioners   court of the county in which the death occurred any compensation,   other than mileage, for conducting the inquest.          SECTION 3.  Article 49.07(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:                (3)  If a justice of the peace or the county judge   serving the county in which the body or body part was found is not   available to conduct an inquest, a person required to give notice   under this article may ask the justice of the peace of the precinct   in which the body or body part was found or the county judge to   request a justice of the peace of another county to which this   subchapter applies to conduct the inquest.  The justice of the peace   that conducts the inquest shall, not later than the fifth day after   the date the inquest is initiated, transfer all information related   to the inquest to the justice of the peace of the precinct in which   the body or body part was found for final disposition of the matter.     All expenses related to the inquest must be paid as provided by this   chapter.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.