SLS 23RS-383 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 187
BY SENATOR KLEINPETER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CORONERS. Provides relative to cremation of bodies. (8/1/23)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:5716, relative to cremation of bodies; to provide for issuance
3 of a permit for cremation by a coroner; to provide for denial of a permit for
4 cremation by a coroner; 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 A. If the cremation of a body is requested, the funeral director shall
9 immediately notify the coroner who has jurisdiction in the death.
10 B. If, after the necessary investigation of the facts surrounding the death,
11 the coroner is satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the
12 death, he shall issue a permit for cremation.
13 C. If the investigation of the facts surrounding the death reveals suspicious
14 circumstances, or the reasonable probability of the commission of a crime, or other
15 reason that requires an autopsy be performed, the coroner shall deny the permit.
16 After completion of the coroner's investigation, including the autopsy and
17 necessary removal of any specimens, organs, or other portions of the remains
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. 187
SLS 23RS-383 ORIGINAL
1 as provided for in R.S. 13:5713, he may issue a permit for cremation.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 187 Original 2023 Regular Session Kleinpeter
Present law provides that if the cremation of a body is requested, the funeral director shall
immediately notify the coroner who has jurisdiction in the death. Proposed law retains
present law.
Present law provides that the coroner shall issue a permit for cremation if, after the necessary
investigation, he is satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the
death. Proposed law retains present law but clarifies that the investigation is of the facts
surrounding the death.
Present law provides that the coroner shall deny the permit if the investigation reveals
suspicious circumstances or the reasonable probability of the commission of a crime.
Proposed law expands the reasons for denying the permit to include any other reason that
requires an autopsy be performed.
Present law further provides that the coroner may issue a permit for cremation after
completion of his investigation. Proposed law specifies that the coroner may issue the permit
after completion of the coroner's investigation, including the autopsy and necessary removal
of any specimens, organs, or other portions of the remains as provided for in present law.
Effective August 1, 2023.
(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.