Chemical Analyses

Art. 49A.065. CHEMICAL ANALYSES. (a) A justice of the peace may obtain a chemical analysis of a sample taken from a body to determine whether the death was caused, wholly or partly, by the ingestion, injection, or introduction into the body of a poison or other chemical substance. A justice may obtain a chemical analysis under this subsection from a chemist, toxicologist, pathologist, or other medical expert. (b) A justice of the peace shall obtain a chemical analysis under Subsection (a) if requested by the physician who performed an autopsy on the body. (c) The commissioners court shall pay a reasonable fee to a person who conducts a chemical analysis at the request of a justice of the peace. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 1610), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of article effective on April 01, 2027