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, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the board of mortuary science to adopt rules for the provision of natural reduction services and the licensure of natural reduction establishments, which shall include a minimum setback distance of 500 feet from any drinking water source. 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. The bill requires the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) to adopt rules for the interment of naturally reduced human remains at a cemetery and prohibits a cemetery from interring naturally reduced human remains unless it complies with the rules of the commissioner. The bill directs the commissioner to inform the board of mortuary science of all cemeteries that can receive naturally reduced human remains. 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 a natural reduction establishment license is subject to all penalties prescribed for making a false affidavit. A person who fails to comply with the rules of the commissioner relating to the interment of naturally reduced human remains commits an unfair practice and may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027, except that the board of mortuary science and commissioner may adopt rules for implementation of the bill prior to that date.