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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 540H.P. 359House of Representatives, February 11, 2025
An Act to Identify the State's Unidentified Human Remains
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BOYER of Poland.
Cosponsored by Senator BICKFORD of Androscoggin and
Representatives: FREDERICKS of Sanford, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, HYMES of
Waldo, JAVNER of Chester, SUPICA of Bangor, Senators: GROHOSKI of Hancock,
HICKMAN of Kennebec, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin. Page 1 - 132LR1632(01)
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2 as amended by PL 2017, c. 335, ยง1, is repealed and the
3 following enacted in its place:
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6 This section governs the storage, identification, disposition and expenses related to
7 human remains.
8 Whenever unidentified human
9 remains are recovered, the Chief Medical Examiner may store the remains, release them to
10 an educational institution, inter them in an appropriate resting place or have them cremated
11 in accordance with this section. Ashes of remains cremated may be disposed of in any
12 appropriate manner. Human remains uncovered in a cared-for cemetery are excluded from
13 the operation of this section. Human remains known to be Indian remains are excluded
14 from the operation of this subsection and must be handled in the manner required by section
15 2842-B.
16 The Chief Medical Examiner may assume responsibility for the disposal of identified
17 human remains of a deceased resident of this State that are the subject of a medical
18 examiner case if no one takes custody and control of the human remains for a period of 30
19 days after the Chief Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy or necessary examination
20 of the human remains, made reasonable inquiry under section subsection 1 and
21 satisfied the requirements of subsection 2. Such abandoned remains may be interred or
22 cremated. The Chief Medical Examiner shall file or cause to be filed a certificate of
23 abandonment in the municipality where the human remains were recovered that indicates
24 the means of disposal.
25 In the absence of a responsible party, payment of expenses incurred by the Chief Medical
26 Examiner pursuant to this section must be made pursuant to section subsection 2
27 as if the remains were unidentified. The Chief Medical Examiner may seek to recover costs
28 from the estate or municipality of residence of the deceased.
29 After the Chief Medical Examiner
30 has had possession of unidentified human remains for 45 days, the Chief Medical Examiner
31 shall test the deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of the unidentified human remains using
32 forensic genetic genealogy testing. For purposes of this subsection, "forensic genetic
33 genealogy testing" means a DNA analysis of a sample of biological material by a laboratory
34 to develop a profile and search for that profile in a database of personal genomics or using
35 a direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy service.
36 The Chief
37 Medical Examiner shall use forensic genetic genealogy testing of the deoxyribonucleic
38 acid, or DNA, of unidentified human remains in order of importance as determined by the
39 Chief Medical Examiner to identify any unidentified human remains in the possession of
40 the Chief Medical Examiner as of the effective date of this Act. As used in this section,
41 "forensic genetic genealogy testing" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised
42 Statutes, Title 22, section 3028-A, subsection 2. Page 2 - 132LR1632(01)
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2 This bill requires the Chief Medical Examiner to use forensic genetic genealogy testing
3 with the deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of the remains of an unidentified individual after
4 45 days of having possession of those remains.
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