HB557--DECEASEDPERSONS
SPONSOR: Houx
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
ProfessionalRegistrationandLicensingbyavoteof11to0.
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.Itfurther
allowsthenext-of-kintodelegatecontrolofthefinaldisposition
oftheremainsofanydeadhumanbeingtoanagent.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2163(2022).
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisbillprotectstheinterests
ofthedeceasedandsurvivingfamilymembersintheeventthe
deceasedhadbegun,butnotfinalized,divorceproceedings.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Houx;and
DonaldOtto,MissouriFuneralDirectorsAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthisisnotan
effectivemethodanditwillrequirethecoronertosubmitan
amendedaffidavittotheDepartmentofHealthandSeniorCitizens
inordertocompletethedeathcertificateifthecoronermarks
pendingonthedeathcertificate.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwasBrentStidham.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.