Sec. 691.030.  COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO DISTRIBUTE BODIES AND ANATOMICAL SPECIMENS.  (a)  The commission or the commission's representative shall distribute bodies donated to it and may redistribute bodies donated to medical or dental schools or other donees authorized by the commission to:
(1)  willed body programs of schools and colleges of chiropractic, osteopathy, medicine, or dentistry incorporated in this state;
(2)  forensic science programs;
(3)  search and rescue organizations or recovery teams that are recognized by the commission, are exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and use human remains detection canines with the authorization of a local or county law enforcement agency;
(4)  physicians;
(5)  anatomical facilities; and
(6)  other persons as provided by this section.
(b)  In making the distribution, the commission shall give priority to the schools and colleges that need bodies for lectures and demonstrations.
(c)  If the commission has remaining bodies, the commission or the commission's representative shall distribute or redistribute those bodies to the schools and colleges proportionately and equitably according to the number of students in each school or college receiving instruction or demonstration in normal or morbid anatomy and operative surgery.  The dean of each school or college shall certify that number to the commission when required by the commission.
(d)  The commission may transport a body or anatomical specimen to an authorized recipient in another state if the commission determines that the supply of bodies or anatomical specimens in this state exceeds the need for bodies or anatomical specimens in this state and if:
(1)  the deceased donated the deceased's body in compliance with Section 691.028 and at the time of the donation authorized the commission to transport the body outside this state; or
(2)  the body was donated in compliance with Chapter 692A and the person authorized to make the donation under Section 692A.009 authorized the commission to transport the body outside this state.
(e)  This section does not apply to a body or anatomical specimen donated to a registered non-transplant anatomical donation organization.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 948, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 186 (H.B. 2027), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 624 (S.B. 1214), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 961 (S.B. 2040), Sec. 1.16, eff. September 1, 2023.