Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the examination, transportation, and embalming of dead bodies
Sponsored by the House Local Government Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 20, 2021
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2021
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 8, 2021
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 23, 202148–0
- Done: To the GovernorMarch 22, 2021
- Done: Signed into lawMarch 22, 2021
SF 307 became law → The same legislation passed as SF 307, so this version was set aside. Go to SF 307 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Funeral directors must now report certain deaths to a medical examiner instead of embalmers. If a death looks suspicious or affects the public, the funeral director cannot embalm the body until the medical examiner gives permission. In these cases, the county must pay the funeral director for the cost of moving the body to and from an autopsy.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the examination, transportation, and embalming of dead bodies. The bill requires a funeral director, as opposed to an embalmer as currently required, to report to the county or state medical examiner a person’s death that affects the public interest. The bill prohibits the embalming of a body prior to receiving consent from the county medical examiner if the funeral director, as opposed to an embalmer, has reason to believe the death affects the public interest, when there is sufficient evidence to arouse suspicion of a crime related to the cause of death, or when the medical examiner has a duty to view the body and investigate the death. 802 due to a death affecting the public interest, the bill requires a county to reimburse a funeral director for all costs associated with transporting the body to and from the facility performing the autopsy at a rate equivalent to the rate of reimbursement allowed under the standard mileage rate method for computation of business expenses pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code at the time the transportation occurs.3.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.
Changed since by amendments S-3043, H-1112; see Amendments.
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
2 for · 2 against · 9 undecided · Who →