Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §2843, first ¶, as amended by PL 1985, c. 231, §1, is further amended to read:

Except as authorized by the department, no dead human body shall may be buried, cremated or otherwise disposed of or removed from the State until a funeral director or other authorized person in charge of the disposition of the dead human body or its removal from the State has obtained a permit from the clerk of the municipality where death occurred or where the establishment of a funeral director having custody of the dead human body is located. The permit shall be is sufficient authority for final disposition in any place where dead human bodies are disposed of in this State, provided that the requirements of Title 32, section 1405, are met in appropriate cases. No such permit may be issued to anyone other than a funeral director until the clerk of the municipality receives a medical certificate which that has been signed by a physician or a medical examiner which that indicates that the physician or medical examiner has personally examined the body after death. A permit must also be issued if a nurse practitioner has signed the medical certificate indicating that the nurse practitioner has knowledge of the deceased's recent medical condition or was in charge of the deceased's care and that the nurse practitioner has personally examined the body after death. The authorized person may transport a dead human body only upon receipt of this permit.

Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §2843, 3rd ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 574, §28, is further amended to read:

A municipal clerk may issue a disposition of human remains permit to a funeral director who presents a report of death and states that the funeral director has been unable to obtain a medical certification of the cause of death. The funeral director shall name the attending physician, attending nurse practitioner or medical examiner who will certify to the cause of death and present assurances that he or she has agreed to do so. The funeral director shall exercise due diligence to secure the medical certification and file the death certificate as soon as possible.