Relating to the natural organic reduction of human remains

This bill relates to the natural organic reduction of human remains. The bill allows a licensed organic reduction establishment (establishment) to perform natural organic reduction of human remains, defined in the bill as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. An establishment shall include a building or structure containing one or more aerobic reduction vessels, a motorized mechanical device for the processing of naturally reduced remains, and a refrigerated holding facility for the storage of dead human bodies. To obtain a natural organic reduction facility license, the bill requires an applicant to submit an application to the board of mortuary science (board), an application fee of $425, proof of business ownership, and proof of liability insurance or evidence of ability to pay damages related to the operation of the establishment. The bill also requires the board to perform an initial inspection of the establishment prior to issuing a license. All licenses are nontransferrable, valid from July through June 30, and may be renewed. The bill requires the board to impose a late filing fee of $100 on a renewal application submitted up to days after the expiration date of the license. A license that is not renewed within days after expiration shall lapse. The bill allows an establishment to employ unlicensed persons but requires the owner of the establishment to provide training for the unlicensed employees and ensure that they comply with relevant laws and rules of the board. The bill allows an establishment to accept remains for natural organic reduction only if the remains are enclosed in a container that is suitable for natural organic reduction and impermeable or leak-proof, delivered by a licensed funeral establishment, and accompanied by a written authorization from a person with authority to direct the final disposition of the remains. The written authorization must include the name and date of death of the deceased, a statement authorizing natural organic reduction, the name, address, phone number, relationship to the deceased, and signature of the person who signed the written authorization, directions for the disposition of any nonnaturally organically reduced materials or items recovered from the natural organic reduction vessel, acknowledgment that some of the naturally organically reduced remains will be mechanically reduced to a granulated appearance, and directions for the ultimate disposition of the naturally organically reduced remains. The bill prohibits an establishment from accepting a body for natural organic reduction if there is a known dispute regarding the natural organic reduction of the remains or if there is a reasonable basis for questioning a representation made on the written authorization to naturally organically reduce. If remains are delivered in a container that is not suitable for natural organic reduction or that shows signs of leaking, the bill requires the remains to be returned to the funeral establishment or transferred to a suitable container by a licensed funeral director. The bill only allows remains to be removed from the container in which it was delivered by a licensed funeral director and with the express written authorization of the person with authority to direct the final disposition of the remains. The bill requires an establishment to begin natural organic reduction within a reasonable time after death and to implement an identification and tracking system for dead human bodies and naturally organically reduced remains. The bill also requires natural organic reduction to be conducted privately and prohibits the commingling of dead human bodies and naturally organically reduced human remains. If naturally organically reduced human remains are unclaimed after days following completion of natural organic reduction, the bill requires the establishment to give written notice by certified mail to the person with authority to direct the final disposition of the remains. If naturally organically reduced remains are unclaimed 120 days following the mailing of written notice, the bill allows the establishment to dispose of the remains in a respectful and lawful manner. The bill requires natural organic reduction to be performed using an aerobic reduction vessel approved by the board, and that is designed to promote aerobic reduction and minimize odor. Following natural organic reduction, the bill requires the remains to be cured appropriately and any fragments larger than one centimeter to be reduced by a motorized mechanical device to a granulated appearance appropriate for final disposition. The bill requires an establishment to maintain a record of each natural organic reduction performed by the establishment. The records shall include the name of the funeral establishment delivering the body for natural organic reduction; the name of the deceased and the identification number assigned to the body; the date of acceptance of delivery; the names of the operator of the natural organic reduction process and mechanical processor operator; the times and dates that the body was placed in and removed from the aerobic reduction vessel; the time and date that processing and inurnment of the naturally organically reduced remains was completed, time, date, and manner of release of the naturally organically reduced remains; the name and address of the person who signed the authorization for natural organic reduction; all supporting documentation, including transit or disposition permits, a photocopy of the death record, and the authorization for natural organic reduction; and the type of aerobic reduction vessel used. The bill requires an establishment to retain records for years. The bill requires the board to adopt rules to implement the bill.