1. (a) Catastrophe is defined in the Health and Safety Code, §193.010.
2. (b) When catastrophe is deemed the cause of death, the local registrar shall prepare and file the certificate of death.

3. (c) The local registrar shall only prepare and file a certificate of death caused by catastrophe if:

   1. (1) the body has not been found; and
   2. (2) an affidavit has been submitted to the local registrar according to the guidelines set forth in the Health and Safety Code, §193.010(b), and the affiant has followed the specific criteria laid out in Health and Safety Code, §193.010(b).
4. (d) The Bureau may prepare and file a certificate of death by catastrophe for a minor or a person for whom a guardian has been appointed who is the subject of a custody or guardianship dispute only if all parties to the dispute submit an affidavit under the Health and Safety Code, §193.010(b).

5. (e) A registrar completing a certificate of death that is a death by catastrophe shall complete the cause of death information as follows.

   1. (1) Type the words, "Death by Catastrophe" in item number 35, Part 1a.
   2. (2) Do not complete the rest of item 35.
   3. (3) Complete items 36 through 40 if known.
   4. (4) Items 41a through 41f must be completed on all certificates of death by catastrophe.

Source Note:The provisions of this §181.33 adopted to be effective July 22, 2004, 29 TexReg 6936.