Relating to the natural reduction of human remains, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to the practice of natural reduction by funeral directors. The bill defines “natural reduction” as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. The bill prohibits a person other than a funeral director from providing natural reduction services and requires that natural reduction services be provided in a natural reduction establishment, defined in the bill. The bill requires the board of mortuary sciences to adopt rules for the provision of natural reduction services and the licensure of natural reduction establishments. To qualify for a natural reduction establishment license, the bill requires a person to submit an application and license fee as determined by the board. By operation of law, a person who violates a provision of the bill may be subject to a civil penalty as determined by the board and a person who makes a false statement in an application for natural reduction establishment license is subject to all penalties prescribed for making a false affidavit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, except that the board of mortuary science may adopt rules for the implementation of the bill prior to that date.