Art. 49A.201 APPLICABILITY

This rule explains when a certain set of autopsy rules does not apply. If an autopsy is ordered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or by an official at that department under a specific state law, these rules do not cover it. The same is true if a justice of the peace or medical examiner decides an autopsy is required under this chapter or some other law.

In simple terms, this rule just draws a boundary line. It tells people that the autopsy rules in this subchapter are not meant to control every autopsy in Texas. Instead, they leave room for prison officials, justices of the peace, and medical examiners to order autopsies under their own separate legal authority, without being blocked or limited by this particular set of rules.