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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1008 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2206
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick Joseph Kearney
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to permit the scattering of unclaimed cremated remains at sea.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth1/17/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1008 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2206
By Representative Kearney of Scituate, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2206) of
Patrick Joseph Kearney for legislation to permit the scattering of unclaimed cremated remains at
sea. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2330 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to permit the scattering of unclaimed cremated remains at sea.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 43M of chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 15, the following words:-
3 "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a funeral establishment in
4possession of the cremated remains of a human body which is not claimed by a next-of-kin or
5duly authorized representative within 12 months after the date of cremation may have the
6remains interred or placed in a common grave, niche, or crypt in a cemetery, or scattered in an
7area of the cemetery designated for that purpose;"
8 and, inserting in place thereof the following words: 2 of 2
9 "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a funeral establishment in
10possession of the cremated remains of a human body which is not claimed by a next-of-kin or
11duly authorized representative within 12 months after the date of cremation may have the
12remains interred or placed in a common grave, niche, or crypt in a cemetery, scattered in an area
13of the cemetery designated for that purpose, or scattered at sea;"