Texas Law Improves Disaster Preparedness and Death Investigation

Senate Bill 2 is a new Texas law that strengthens how our communities prepare for and respond to disasters. The law was introduced by Charles Perry and 97 other lawmakers and has been approved by the House. The bill creates a new training program for local justices of the peace in counties that do not have a medical examiner. This training will teach them how to manage mass fatality events caused by natural disasters. The Department of State Health Services and the Texas Division of Emergency Management will develop the training together. Justices must complete this training within one year of taking office, and failure to do so can result in removal from their position. The training program will cover three main areas. First, justices will learn decision-making protocols for ordering an autopsy and standards for identifying and documenting bodies. Second, they will study best practices for collecting and reporting data on missing persons and coordinating with multiple government agencies during mass fatality events. Third, justices will learn how to provide real-time status updates and notifications to close relatives of disaster victims, helping families get information quickly when they need it most. The law also streamlines the death investigation process after natural disasters. When a justice of the peace determines by clear evidence that a death resulted from disaster injuries and was not caused by an unlawful act or omission, and no family member is seeking an autopsy, the justice may certify that an autopsy is unnecessary. This provision expires on April 1, 2027. These changes will help our communities respond more effectively and compassionately when natural disasters strike.