IL SB2249

Amends the Department of Public Health Act to allow citizens and religious groups to bury their dead privately without a licensed funeral director when no demonstrated public health hazard exists.

Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules providing next of kin or legally authorized representatives access to paperwork and permits necessary for legal disposition of a decedent, including the disposition permit and certificate of death.

Maintains existing requirements for labeling bodies of persons with suspected infectious or communicable diseases as "Infection Hazard" to inform funeral directors and embalmers of necessary precautions.

Directs the Department to respect and accommodate religious beliefs when implementing burial regulations, and to construe burial provisions liberally in favor of private burial rights absent public health hazards.

Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.