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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
cremation
Purpose
Adds natural organic reduction as a statutorily allowed method of cremation and modifies the definitions of cremation, cremated remains and processed cremated remains.
Background
The Department of Health Services (DHS) and the DHS Funeral Services Licensing Advisory Committee oversee the funeral services industry following the 2023 termination of the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. DHS enforces funeral service regulations, collects regulatory fees and administers licensure and registration of funeral establishments and professionals (A.R.S Title 32, Chapter 12).
Cremation
is the heating process that reduces human remains to bone fragments by
combustion and evaporation. Cremated remains are the bone fragments remaining
after cremation. Processed cremated remains are cremated remains after
they are pulverized and cleaned. DHS may take disciplinary action against a crematory
or a crematory agent or employee (crematory) if the crematory introduces an additional
dead human body or cremated remains into a cremation chamber or processor
before reasonable efforts have been made to remove all fragments of the
previously cremated or processed remains without written consent (A.R.S. §§ 32-1301
and
32-1398).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Defines natural organic reduction as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil.
2. Expands the definition of cremation to include the reduction of human remains to soil by natural organic reduction.
3. Requires a crematory to make a reasonable effort to remove all soil remaining in a cremation chamber or processor after a cremation or processing before introducing an additional dead human body or cremated remains into the cremation chamber or processor.
4. Modifies the definition of cremated remains to include soil remaining after cremation.
5. Modifies the definition of processed cremated remains to include soil remaining after the pulverization and cleaning of cremated remains.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 17, 2024
MG/JC/cs