SLS 20RS-331 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 137
BY SENATOR FOIL
CORONERS. Requires the coroner to issue a permit for cremation after completion of
coroner's investigation of death when under suspicious circumstances or the reasonable
probability of the commission of a crime. (8/1/20)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:5716, relative to coroners; to provide for cremation of bodies;
3 to provide for notification; to provide for an investigation; to provide for a permit;
4 and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 13:5716 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง5716. Cremation of bodies
8 If the cremation of a body is requested, the funeral director shall immediately
9 notify the coroner who has jurisdiction in the death.
10 A. If, after the necessary investigation, the coroner is satisfied that there are
11 no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, he shall issue a permit for
12 cremation.
13 B. If the investigation reveals suspicious circumstances or the reasonable
14 probability of the commission of a crime, the coroner shall deny the permit. After
15 completion of the coroner's investigation, he shall issue a permit for cremation.
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 137
SLS 20RS-331 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 137 Original 2020 Regular Session Foil
Present law requires that if the cremation of a body is requested, the funeral director
immediately notify the coroner who has jurisdiction in the death.
Present law requires that after the necessary investigation, the coroner issue a permit for
cremation if he is satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Present law requires that the coroner deny the permit if the investigation reveals suspicious
circumstances or the reasonable probability of the commission of a crime.
Proposed law retains present law but requires that in instances where the investigation
reveals suspicious circumstances or the reasonable probability of the commission of a crime,
the coroner issue a permit for cremation after the coroner's investigation is complete.
Effective August 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 13:5716)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.