An Act To Provide Oversight for Crematoriums
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1400, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2001, c. 169, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1400, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 169, §2, is further amended to read:
A license for the practice of funeral service as used in this chapter is the license given to a person who is engaged in the practice of funeral service as above defined.
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §1405, as amended by PL 1985, c. 611, §§11 and 12 and PL 1997, c. 210, §40 and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:
§ 1405. Cremation
Any A person, firm or corporation within the State , with the approval of the Department of Health and Human Services commissioner may establish and maintain suitable buildings and appliances for the cremation of bodies of the dead and, subject to the regulations rules of the department Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, may cremate such bodies and dispose of the ashes of the same.
The body of a deceased person shall may not be cremated within 48 hours after his decease death unless he the person died of a contagious or infectious disease , and in no event shall may the body of a deceased person be cremated, buried at sea, used by medical science or removed from the State until the person, firm or corporation in charge of the disposition has received a certificate from a duly appointed medical examiner that he the medical examiner has made personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death and is satisfied that no further examination or judicial inquiry concerning the same cause and manner of death is not necessary. This certificate, a certified copy of the death certificate and a burial transit permit when presented by the authorized person as defined in Title 22, section 2846 , shall be is sufficient authority for cremation, burial at sea, use by medical science or removal from the State , and the person, firm or corporation in charge of the disposition shall may not refuse to cremate or otherwise dispose of the body solely because these documents are presented by such an authorized person. The certificate shall must be retained by the person, firm or corporation in charge of the cremation or disposition for a period of 15 years. For the certificate, the medical examiner shall must receive a fee of $15 payable by the person requesting same the certificate.
No human Human remains shall may not be removed, transported or shipped to any a crematory unless encased in a casket or other suitable container.
SUMMARY
This bill transfers licensing and regulation responsibility for crematoriums from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation and allows a licensed funeral home to conduct cremations.