Assigned to FICO FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1042
cremation
Purpose
Adds natural organic reduction as a statutorily allowed method of cremation and modifies
the definitions of cremation, cremated remains and processed cremated remains.
Background
The Department of Health Services (DHS) and the DHS Funeral Services Licensing
Advisory Committee oversee the funeral services industry following the 2023 termination of the
State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. DHS enforces funeral service regulations,
collects regulatory fees and administers licensure and registration of funeral establishments and
professionals (A.R.S Title 32, Chapter 12).
Cremation is the heating process that reduces human remains to bone fragments by
combustion and evaporation. Cremated remains are the bone fragments remaining after cremation.
Processed cremated remains are cremated remains after they are pulverized and cleaned. DHS
may take disciplinary action against a crematory or a crematory agent or employee (crematory) if
the crematory introduces an additional dead human body or cremated remains into a cremation
chamber or processor before reasonable efforts have been made to remove all fragments of the
previously cremated or processed remains without written consent (A.R.S. ยงยง 32-1301 and
32-1398).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Defines natural organic reduction as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains
to soil.
2. Expands the definition of cremation to include the reduction of human remains to soil by
natural organic reduction.
3. Requires a crematory to make a reasonable effort to remove all soil remaining in a cremation
chamber or processor after a cremation or processing before introducing an additional dead
human body or cremated remains into the cremation chamber or processor.
4. Modifies the definition of cremated remains to include soil remaining after cremation.
5. Modifies the definition of processed cremated remains to include soil remaining after the
pulverization and cleaning of cremated remains. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1042
Page 2
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 17, 2024
MG/JC/cs