CS/HB 171 Summary

• Revises procedures for death and fetal death registration, medical examiner referral timelines, and burial-transit permit issuance by the Department of Health and local registrars.

• Creates new statutory definitions and procedures for unclaimed human remains, including requirements for notification to the anatomical board, restrictions on cremation and anatomical donation of unidentified remains, and provisions for indigent person burials.

• Authorizes the anatomical board to retain human remains for 48 hours before use and establishes procedures for legally authorized persons to claim remains after payment of board expenses for storage and embalming.

• Allows nontransplant anatomical donation organizations accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (by October 1, 2014) to convey human remains without prior anatomical board approval and requires specific written consent for dissection or segmentation.

• Establishes requirements for disposal of unclaimed cremated remains, including reasonable efforts to identify veteran status and arrangements for interment in national cemeteries; requires audits of anatomical board financial records; takes effect July 1, 2013.