HB557--DECEASEDPERSONS
SPONSOR: Houx
Currentlawrequiresthatifacauseofdeathcannotbedetermined
after72hours,theattendingmedicalprofessionalmustgivethe
funeraldirectorinchargeoffinaldispositionofthedeadbody
notice.Thisbillrequiresthattheattendingmedicalprofessional
completethemedicalcertificationbyindicatingthecertification
ispendinginvestigation, thenamendthecertificateofdeathupon
conclusionoftheinvestigation.
Undertheprovisionsofthisbill,theDepartmentofHealthand
SeniorServicesmayissuerulesandregulations,settingforth
healthandsafetyrequirementsforthetransportation ofdeadhuman
bodiesplacedoncommoncarriersinthestate.Thebillrepeals
currentprovisionsrelatedtothetransportation ofdeadbodies.
Thebillalsoclarifiesthatfortherightofsepulcher,next-of-
kinshallonlyincludethesurvivingspouseiftherehasnotbeen
anactionforthedissolutionofthemarriagefiled.Iffurther
allowsthenext-of-kintodelegatecontrolofthefinaldisposition
oftheremainsofanydeadhumanbeingtoanagent.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2163(2022).