2023 Texas Statutes › Health and Safety Code › Title 8 - Death and Disposition of the Body › Subtitle B - Disposition of the Body › Chapter 692A - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 692A.011. Persons That May Receive Anatomical Gift; Purpose of Anatomical Gift

Sec. 692A.011.  PERSONS THAT MAY RECEIVE ANATOMICAL GIFT; PURPOSE OF ANATOMICAL GIFT.  (a)  An anatomical gift may be made to the following persons named in the document of gift:
(1)  an organ procurement organization to be used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education;
(2)  a hospital to be used for research;
(3)  subject to Subsection (d), an individual designated by the person making the anatomical gift if the individual is the recipient of the part;
(4)  an eye bank or tissue bank, except that use of a gift of a whole body must be coordinated through the Texas Funeral Service Commission;
(5)  a forensic science program at:
(A)  a general academic teaching institution as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or
(B)  a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
(6)  a search and rescue organization or recovery team that is recognized by the Texas Funeral Service Commission, is exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and uses human remains detection canines with the authorization of a local or county law enforcement agency;
(7)  the Texas Funeral Service Commission; or
(8)  a non-transplant anatomical donation organization.
(b)  Except for donations described by Subsections (a)(1) through (6), the Texas Funeral Service Commission or a non-transplant anatomical donation organization shall be the donee of gifts of bodies or parts of bodies made for the purpose of education or research that are subject to distribution by the commission or organization under Chapter 691.
(c)  A forensic science program that receives a donation under Subsection (a)(5) must submit a report to the Texas Funeral Service Commission on a quarterly basis that lists:
(1)  the number of bodies or parts of bodies that the program received; and
(2)  the method in which the program used the bodies or parts of bodies for education or research.
(d)  If an anatomical gift to an individual under Subsection (a)(3) cannot be transplanted into the individual, the part passes in accordance with Subsection (i) in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the person making the anatomical gift.
(e)  If an anatomical gift of one or more specific parts or of all parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in Subsection (a) but identifies the purpose for which an anatomical gift may be used, the following rules apply:
(1)  if the part is an eye and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank;
(2)  if the part is tissue and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank;
(3)  if the part is an organ and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ; and
(4)  if the part is an organ, an eye, or tissue and the gift is for the purpose of research or education, the gift passes to the appropriate procurement organization.
(f)  For the purpose of Subsection (e), if there is more than one purpose of an anatomical gift set forth in the document of gift but the purposes are not set forth in any priority, the gift must be used for transplantation or therapy, if suitable. If the gift cannot be used for transplantation or therapy, the gift may be used for research or education.
(g)  If an anatomical gift of one or more specific parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in Subsection (a) and does not identify the purpose of the gift, the gift may be used only for transplantation or therapy, and the gift passes in accordance with Subsection (i).
(h)  If a document of gift specifies only a general intent to make an anatomical gift by words such as "donor," "organ donor," or "body donor," or by a symbol or statement of similar import, the gift may be used only for transplantation or therapy, and the gift passes in accordance with Subsection (i).
(i)  For purposes of Subsections (d), (g), and (h), the following rules apply:
(1)  if the part is an eye, the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank;
(2)  if the part is tissue, the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank; and
(3)  if the part is an organ, the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
(j)  An anatomical gift of an organ for transplantation or therapy, other than an anatomical gift under Subsection (a)(3), passes to the organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
(k)  If an anatomical gift does not pass pursuant to Subsections (a) through (j) or the decedent's body or part is not used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, custody of the body or part passes to the person under obligation to dispose of the body or part.
(l)  A person may not accept an anatomical gift if the person knows that the gift was not effectively made under Section 692A.005 or Section 692A.010 or if the person knows that the decedent made a refusal under Section 692A.007 that was not revoked.  For purposes of this subsection, if a person knows that an anatomical gift was made on a document of gift, the person is deemed to know of any amendment or revocation of the gift or any refusal to make an anatomical gift on the same document of gift.
(m)  Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (a)(3), nothing in this chapter affects the allocation of organs for transplantation or therapy.
(n)  A donee may accept or reject a gift.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 186 (H.B. 2027), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 624 (S.B. 1214), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 961 (S.B. 2040), Sec. 2.03, eff. September 1, 2023.