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VT LEG #379089 v.1
H.41 1
Introduced by Representatives Burditt of West Rutland and Demar of 2
Enosburgh 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Crimes; homicide; abuse of a corpse 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create a new 7
felony statute for an individual who abuses a corpse. Specifically, this bill 8
makes it a felony for an individual to transport or destroy a corpse without 9
legal authorization. Additionally, this bill creates an aggravated felony penalty 10
for actions taken against a corpse to conceal a crime or otherwise avoid the 11
consequences of the commission of a crime. 12
An act relating to creating a felony penalty for abuse of a corpse 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 2312 is added to read: 15
§ 2312. ABUSE OF A CORPSE 16
(a) A person is guilty of abuse of a corpse if the person, without legal 17
authorization, knowingly: 18
(1) transports, buries, or otherwise hides a corpse; or 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.41
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VT LEG #379089 v.1
(2) burns, mutilates, disfigures, dismembers, or otherwise destroys a 1
corpse. 2
(b) A person is guilty of aggravated abuse of a corpse if the person 3
intentionally: 4
(1) transports, buries, or otherwise hides a corpse to conceal a crime or 5
avoid apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of a crime; 6
(2) burns, mutilates, disfigures, dismembers, or otherwise destroys a 7
corpse to conceal a crime or avoid apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of 8
a crime; or 9
(3) perpetrates or attempts to perpetrate sexual assault against a corpse. 10
(c)(1) A person who commits the crime of abuse of a corpse shall be 11
imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or 12
both. 13
(2) A person who commits the crime of aggravated abuse of a corpse 14
shall be imprisoned for not less than five years and a maximum term of 10 15
years and may be fined not more than $10,000.00. 16
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 17
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 18