Bill Text: FL H0915 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Disposition of Human Remains

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H0915 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-H0915-Introduced.html
HB 915

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to disposition of human remains; creating
3pt. VII of ch. 497, F.S., consisting of ss. 497.701,
4497.703, 497.705, 497.707, 497.709, 497.711, 497.713,
5497.715, 497.717, 497.719, and 497.721, F.S.; amending s.
6497.005, F.S.; defining terms relating to the disposition
7of human remains; transferring, renumbering, and amending
8ss. 406.50, 406.51, 406.52, 406.53, 406.55, 406.56,
9406.57, 406.58, 406.59, 406.60, and 406.61, F.S.; revising
10procedures for the reporting and disposition of unclaimed
11remains; prohibiting certain uses or dispositions of the
12remains of deceased persons whose identities are not
13known; requiring that local governmental contracts for the
14final disposition of unclaimed remains comply with certain
15federal regulations; conforming provisions to changes in
16terminology; conforming a cross-reference; revising
17procedures for the anatomical board's retention of human
18remains before their use; providing for claims by, and the
19release of human remains to, legally authorized persons
20after payment of certain expenses; authorizing county
21ordinances or resolutions for the final disposition of the
22unclaimed remains of indigent persons; limiting the
23liability of certain licensed persons for cremating or
24burying human remains under certain circumstances;
25revising exceptions from requirements for notice to the
26anatomical board of the death of indigent persons;
27deleting a requirement that the Department of Health
28assess fees for the burial of certain bodies; conforming
29provisions to changes in terminology; conforming
30terminology of provisions prohibiting the selling or
31buying of human remains or the transmitting or conveying
32of such remains outside the state; providing penalties;
33conforming terminology relating to procedures for the
34conveyance of plastinated human remains into or out of the
35state; repealing s. 406.54, F.S., relating to claims of
36bodies after delivery to the anatomical board; providing
37an effective date.
38
39Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
40
41     Section 1.  Part VII of chapter 497, Florida Statutes,
42consisting of sections 497.701, 497.703, 497.705, 497.707,
43497.709, 497.711, 497.713, 497.715, 497.717, 497.719, and
44497.721, is created and entitled "UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS;
45ANATOMICAL BOARD."
46     Section 2.  Section 497.005, Florida Statutes, is amended
47to read:
48     497.005  Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term:
49     (1)  "Alternative container" means an unfinished wood box
50or other nonmetal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation
51or a fixed interior lining, that is designed for the encasement
52of human remains and that is made of fiberboard, pressed wood,
53composition materials (with or without an outside covering), or
54like materials.
55     (2)  "Anatomical board" means the anatomical board of the
56state headquartered at the University of Florida Health Science
57Center.
58     (3)(2)  "At-need solicitation" means any uninvited contact
59by a licensee or her or his agent for the purpose of the sale of
60burial services or merchandise to the family or next of kin of a
61person after her or his death has occurred.
62     (4)(3)  "Bank of belowground crypts" means any construction
63unit of belowground crypts that is acceptable to the department
64and that a cemetery uses to initiate its belowground crypt
65program or to add to existing belowground crypt structures.
66     (5)(4)  "Belowground crypts" consist of interment space in
67preplaced chambers, either side by side or multiple depth,
68covered by earth and sod and known also as "lawn crypts,"
69"westminsters," or "turf-top crypts."
70     (6)(5)  "Board" means the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and
71Consumer Services.
72     (7)(6)  "Burial merchandise," "funeral merchandise," or
73"merchandise" means any personal property offered or sold by any
74person for use in connection with the final disposition,
75memorialization, interment, entombment, or inurnment of human
76remains or cremated remains, including, but not limited to,
77caskets, outer burial containers, alternative containers,
78cremation containers, cremation interment containers, urns,
79monuments, private mausoleums, flowers, benches, vases,
80acknowledgment cards, register books, memory folders, prayer
81cards, and clothing.
82     (8)(7)  "Burial right" means the right to use a grave
83space, mausoleum, columbarium, ossuary, or scattering garden for
84the interment, entombment, inurnment, or other disposition of
85human remains or cremated remains.
86     (9)(8)  "Burial service" or "service" means any service
87offered or provided in connection with the final disposition,
88memorialization, interment, entombment, or inurnment of human
89remains or cremated remains.
90     (10)(9)  "Care and maintenance" means the perpetual process
91of keeping a cemetery and its lots, graves, grounds,
92landscaping, roads, paths, parking lots, fences, mausoleums,
93columbaria, vaults, crypts, utilities, and other improvements,
94structures, and embellishments in a well-cared-for and dignified
95condition, so that the cemetery does not become a nuisance or
96place of reproach and desolation in the community. As specified
97in the rules of the licensing authority, "care and maintenance"
98may include, but is not limited to, any or all of the following
99activities: mowing the grass at reasonable intervals; raking and
100cleaning the grave spaces and adjacent areas; pruning of shrubs
101and trees; suppression of weeds and exotic flora; and
102maintenance, upkeep, and repair of drains, water lines, roads,
103buildings, and other improvements. "Care and maintenance" may
104include, but is not limited to, reasonable overhead expenses
105necessary for such purposes, including maintenance of machinery,
106tools, and equipment used for such purposes. "Care and
107maintenance" may also include repair or restoration of
108improvements necessary or desirable as a result of wear,
109deterioration, accident, damage, or destruction. "Care and
110maintenance" does not include expenses for the construction and
111development of new grave spaces or interment structures to be
112sold to the public.
113     (11)(10)  "Casket" means a rigid container that is designed
114for the encasement of human remains and that is usually
115constructed of wood or metal, ornamented, and lined with fabric.
116     (12)(11)  "Cemetery" means a place dedicated to and used or
117intended to be used for the permanent interment of human remains
118or cremated remains. A cemetery may contain land or earth
119interment; mausoleum, vault, or crypt interment; a columbarium,
120ossuary, scattering garden, or other structure or place used or
121intended to be used for the interment or disposition of cremated
122remains; or any combination of one or more of such structures or
123places.
124     (13)(12)  "Cemetery company" means any legal entity that
125owns or controls cemetery lands or property.
126     (14)(13)  "Centralized embalming facility" means a facility
127in which embalming takes place that operates independently of a
128funeral establishment licensee and that offers embalming
129services to funeral directors for a fee.
130     (15)(14)  "Cinerator" means a facility where dead human
131bodies are subjected to cremation.
132     (16)(15)  "Closed container" means any container in which
133cremated remains can be placed and closed in a manner so as to
134prevent leakage or spillage of the remains.
135     (17)(16)  "Columbarium" means a structure or building that
136is substantially exposed above the ground and that is intended
137to be used for the inurnment of cremated remains.
138     (18)(17)  "Common business enterprise" means a group of two
139or more business entities that share common ownership in excess
140of 50 percent.
141     (19)(18)  "Control" means the possession, directly or
142indirectly, through the ownership of voting shares, by contract,
143arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, of the
144power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
145policies of a person or entity. However, a person or entity
146shall not be deemed to have control if the person or entity
147holds voting shares, in good faith and not for the purpose of
148circumventing this definition, as an agent, bank, broker,
149nominee, custodian, or trustee for one or more beneficial owners
150who do not individually or as a group have control.
151     (20)(19)  "Cremated remains" means all the remains of the
152human body recovered after the completion of the cremation
153process, including processing or pulverization that leaves only
154bone fragments reduced to unidentifiable dimensions and may
155include the residue of any foreign matter, including casket
156material, bridgework, or eyeglasses that were cremated with the
157human remains.
158     (21)(20)  "Cremation" means any mechanical or thermal
159process whereby a dead human body is reduced to ashes and bone
160fragments. Cremation also includes any other mechanical or
161thermal process whereby human remains are pulverized, burned,
162recremated, or otherwise further reduced in size or quantity.
163     (22)(21)  "Cremation chamber" means the enclosed space
164within which the cremation process takes place. Cremation
165chambers covered by these procedures shall be used exclusively
166for the cremation of human remains.
167     (23)(22)  "Cremation container" means the casket or
168alternative container in which the human remains are transported
169to and placed in the cremation chamber for a cremation. A
170cremation container should meet substantially all of the
171following standards:
172     (a)  Be composed of readily combustible or consumable
173materials suitable for cremation.
174     (b)  Be able to be closed in order to provide a complete
175covering for the human remains.
176     (c)  Be resistant to leakage or spillage.
177     (d)  Be rigid enough to be handled with ease.
178     (e)  Be able to provide protection for the health, safety,
179and personal integrity of crematory personnel.
180     (24)(23)  "Cremation interment container" means a rigid
181outer container that, subject to a cemetery's rules and
182regulations, is composed of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or some
183similar material in which an urn is placed prior to being
184interred in the ground and that is designed to support the earth
185above the urn.
186     (25)(24)  "Department" means the Department of Financial
187Services.
188     (26)(25)  "Direct disposal establishment" means a facility
189licensed under this chapter where a direct disposer practices
190direct disposition.
191     (27)(26)  "Direct disposer" means any person licensed under
192this chapter to practice direct disposition in this state.
193     (28)(27)  "Direct supervision" means supervision by a
194licensed:
195     (a)  Funeral director who provides initial direction and
196periodic inspection of the arrangements and who is physically
197present or on the premises of the funeral establishment at all
198times when the tasks, functions, and duties relating to funeral
199directing are performed; or
200     (b)  Embalmer who provides initial direction and
201instruction regarding the preservation of a dead human body in
202its entirety or in part and who is physically present or on the
203premises of the funeral establishment or embalming facility at
204all times when the tasks, functions, and duties relating to
205embalming are performed.
206     (29)(28)  "Director" means the director of the Division of
207Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services.
208     (30)(29)  "Disinterment" means removal of a dead human body
209from earth interment or aboveground interment.
210     (31)(30)  "Division" means the Division of Funeral,
211Cemetery, and Consumer Services within the Department of
212Financial Services.
213     (32)(31)  "Embalmer" means any person licensed under this
214chapter to practice embalming in this state.
215     (33)(32)  "Final disposition" means the final disposal of a
216dead human body by burial, either by earth interment or,
217aboveground interment, or by entombment, cremation, burial at
218sea, or anatomical donation and delivery to the anatomical board
219a medical institution for lawful dissection provided if the
220anatomical board medical institution assumes responsibility for
221cremation of the dissected remains disposal. "Final disposition"
222does not include the disposal or distribution of cremated
223remains and residue of cremated remains.
224     (34)(33)  "Funeral" or "funeral service" means the
225observances, services, or ceremonies held to commemorate the
226life of a specific deceased human being and at which the human
227remains are present.
228     (35)(34)  "Funeral director" means any person licensed
229under this chapter to practice funeral directing in this state.
230     (36)(35)  "Funeral establishment" means a facility licensed
231under this chapter where a funeral director or embalmer
232practices funeral directing or embalming.
233     (37)(36)  "General supervision" means supervision by a
234licensed:
235     (a)  Funeral director who is reasonably available and in a
236position to provide direction and guidance by being physically
237present, being on the premises of the funeral establishment, or
238being in proximity to the funeral establishment and available
239telephonically or by electronic communication at all times when
240the tasks, functions, and duties relating to funeral directing
241are performed; or
242     (b)  Embalmer who is reasonably available and in a position
243to provide direction and guidance by being physically present,
244being on the premises of the funeral establishment or embalming
245facility, or being in proximity to the funeral establishment or
246embalming facility and available telephonically or by electronic
247communication at all times when the tasks, functions, and duties
248relating to embalming are performed.
249     (38)(37)  "Grave space" means a space of ground in a
250cemetery intended to be used for the interment in the ground of
251human remains.
252     (39)(38)  "Human remains" or "remains," or "dead human
253body" or "dead human bodies," means the body of a deceased human
254person for which a death certificate or fetal death certificate
255is required under chapter 382 and includes the body in any stage
256of decomposition.
257     (40)  "Indigent person" means a person whose family income
258does not exceed 100 percent of the current federal poverty
259guidelines prescribed for the family's household size by the
260United States Department of Health and Human Services.
261     (41)(39)  "Legally authorized person" means, in the
262priority listed:
263     (a)  The decedent, when written inter vivos authorizations
264and directions are provided by the decedent;
265     (b)  The person designated by the decedent as authorized to
266direct disposition pursuant to Pub. L. No. 109-163, s. 564, as
267listed on the decedent's United States Department of Defense
268Record of Emergency Data, DD Form 93, or its successor form, if
269the decedent died while serving military service as described in
27010 U.S.C. s. 1481(a)(1)-(8) in any branch of the United States
271Armed Forces, United States Reserve Forces, or National Guard;
272     (c)  The surviving spouse, unless the spouse has been
273arrested for committing against the deceased an act of domestic
274violence as defined in s. 741.28 that resulted in or contributed
275to the death of the deceased;
276     (d)  A son or daughter who is 18 years of age or older;
277     (e)  A parent;
278     (f)  A brother or sister who is 18 years of age or older;
279     (g)  A grandchild who is 18 years of age or older;
280     (h)  A grandparent; or
281     (i)  Any person in the next degree of kinship.
282
283In addition, the term may include, if no family member exists or
284is available, the guardian of the dead person at the time of
285death; the personal representative of the deceased; the attorney
286in fact of the dead person at the time of death; the health
287surrogate of the dead person at the time of death; a public
288health officer; the medical examiner, county commission, or
289administrator acting under part VII II of this chapter 406 or
290other public administrator; a representative of a nursing home
291or other health care institution in charge of final disposition;
292or a friend or other person not listed in this subsection who is
293willing to assume the responsibility as the legally authorized
294person. Where there is a person in any priority class listed in
295this subsection, the funeral establishment shall rely upon the
296authorization of any one legally authorized person of that class
297if that person represents that she or he is not aware of any
298objection to the cremation of the deceased's human remains by
299others in the same class of the person making the representation
300or of any person in a higher priority class.
301     (42)(40)  "License" includes all authorizations required or
302issued under this chapter, except where expressly indicated
303otherwise, and shall be understood to include authorizations
304previously referred to as registrations or certificates of
305authority in chapters 470 and 497 as those chapters appeared in
306the 2004 edition of the Florida Statutes.
307     (43)(41)  "Licensee" means the person or entity holding any
308license or other authorization issued under this chapter, except
309where expressly indicated otherwise.
310     (44)(42)  "Mausoleum" means a structure or building that is
311substantially exposed above the ground and that is intended to
312be used for the entombment of human remains.
313     (45)(43)  "Mausoleum section" means any construction unit
314of a mausoleum that is acceptable to the department and that a
315cemetery uses to initiate its mausoleum program or to add to its
316existing mausoleum structures.
317     (46)(44)  "Monument" means any product used for identifying
318a grave site and cemetery memorials of all types, including
319monuments, markers, and vases.
320     (47)(45)  "Monument establishment" means a facility that
321operates independently of a cemetery or funeral establishment
322and that offers to sell monuments or monument services to the
323public for placement in a cemetery.
324     (48)(46)  "Net assets" means the amount by which the total
325assets of a licensee, excluding goodwill, franchises, customer
326lists, patents, trademarks, and receivables from or advances to
327officers, directors, employees, salespersons, and affiliated
328companies, exceed total liabilities of the licensee. For
329purposes of this definition, the term "total liabilities" does
330not include the capital stock, paid-in capital, or retained
331earnings of the licensee.
332     (49)(47)  "Net worth" means total assets minus total
333liabilities pursuant to generally accepted accounting
334principles.
335     (50)(48)  "Niche" means a compartment or cubicle for the
336memorialization or permanent placement of a container or urn
337containing cremated remains.
338     (51)(49)  "Ossuary" means a receptacle used for the
339communal placement of cremated remains without benefit of an urn
340or any other container in which cremated remains may be
341commingled with other cremated remains and are nonrecoverable.
342It may or may not include memorialization.
343     (52)(50)  "Outer burial container" means an enclosure into
344which a casket is placed and includes, but is not limited to,
345vaults made of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or copper; sectional
346concrete enclosures; crypts; and wooden enclosures.
347     (53)(51)  "Person," when used without qualification such as
348"natural" or "individual," includes both natural persons and
349legal entities.
350     (54)(52)  "Personal residence" means any residential
351building in which one temporarily or permanently maintains her
352or his abode, including, but not limited to, an apartment or a
353hotel, motel, nursing home, convalescent home, home for the
354aged, or a public or private institution.
355     (55)(53)  "Practice of direct disposition" means the
356cremation of human remains without preparation of the human
357remains by embalming and without any attendant services or rites
358such as funeral or graveside services or the making of
359arrangements for such final disposition.
360     (56)(54)  "Practice of embalming" means disinfecting or
361preserving or attempting to disinfect or preserve dead human
362bodies by replacing certain body fluids with preserving and
363disinfecting chemicals.
364     (57)(55)  "Practice of funeral directing" means the
365performance by a licensed funeral director of any of those
366functions authorized by s. 497.372.
367     (58)(56)  "Preneed contract" means any arrangement or
368method, of which the provider of funeral merchandise or services
369has actual knowledge, whereby any person agrees to furnish
370funeral merchandise or service in the future.
371     (59)(57)  "Preneed sales agent" means any person who is
372licensed under this chapter to sell preneed burial or funeral
373service and merchandise contracts or direct disposition
374contracts in this state.
375     (60)(58)  "Principal" means and includes the sole
376proprietor of a sole proprietorship; all partners of a
377partnership; all members of a limited liability company;
378regarding a corporation, all directors and officers, and all
379stockholders controlling more than 10 percent of the voting
380stock; and all other persons who can exercise control over the
381person or entity.
382     (61)(59)  "Processing" means the reduction of identifiable
383bone fragments after the completion of the cremation process to
384unidentifiable bone fragments by manual means.
385     (62)(60)  "Profession" and "occupation" are used
386interchangeably in this chapter. The use of the word
387"profession" in this chapter with respect to any activities
388regulated under this chapter shall not be deemed to mean that
389such activities are not occupations for other purposes in state
390or federal law.
391     (63)(61)  "Pulverization" means the reduction of
392identifiable bone fragments after the completion of the
393cremation and processing to granulated particles by manual or
394mechanical means.
395     (64)(62)  "Refrigeration facility" means a facility that is
396operated independently of a funeral establishment, crematory, or
397direct disposal establishment, that maintains space and
398equipment for the storage and refrigeration of dead human
399bodies, and that offers its service to funeral directors,
400funeral establishments, direct disposers, direct disposal
401establishments, or crematories for a fee.
402     (65)(63)  "Religious institution" means an organization
403formed primarily for religious purposes that has qualified for
404exemption from federal income tax as an exempt organization
405under the provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
406Code of 1986, as amended.
407     (66)(64)  "Removal service" means any service that operates
408independently of a funeral establishment or a direct disposal
409establishment, that handles the initial removal of dead human
410bodies, and that offers its service to funeral establishments
411and direct disposal establishments for a fee.
412     (67)(65)  "Rules" refers to rules adopted under this
413chapter unless expressly indicated to the contrary.
414     (68)(66)  "Scattering garden" means a location set aside,
415within a cemetery, that is used for the spreading or
416broadcasting of cremated remains that have been removed from
417their container and can be mixed with or placed on top of the
418soil or ground cover or buried in an underground receptacle on a
419commingled basis and that are nonrecoverable. It may or may not
420include memorialization.
421     (69)(67)  "Servicing agent" means any person acting as an
422independent contractor whose fiduciary responsibility is to
423assist both the trustee and licensee in administrating their
424responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.
425     (70)(68)  "Solicitation" means any communication that
426directly or implicitly requests an immediate oral response from
427the recipient.
428     (71)(69)  "Statutory accounting" means generally accepted
429accounting principles, except as modified by this chapter.
430     (72)(70)  "Temporary container" means a receptacle for
431cremated remains usually made of cardboard, plastic, or similar
432material designated to hold the cremated remains until an urn or
433other permanent container is acquired.
434     (73)  "Unclaimed remains" means human remains that are not
435claimed by a legally authorized person, other than a medical
436examiner or the board of county commissioners, for final
437disposition at the person's expense.
438     (74)(71)  "Urn" means a receptacle designed to permanently
439encase cremated remains.
440     Section 3.  Section 406.50, Florida Statutes, is
441transferred, renumbered as section 497.701, Florida Statutes,
442and amended to read:
443     497.701 406.50  Unclaimed dead bodies or human remains;
444disposition, procedure.-
445     (1)  A person or entity that comes All public officers,
446agents, or employees of every county, city, village, town, or
447municipality and every person in charge of any prison, morgue,
448hospital, funeral parlor, or mortuary and all other persons
449coming into possession, charge, or control of unclaimed any dead
450human body or remains that which are unclaimed or which are
451required to be buried or cremated at public expense shall are
452hereby required to notify, immediately notify, the anatomical
453board, unless:
454     (a)  The unclaimed remains are decomposed or mutilated by
455wounds;
456     (b)  An autopsy is performed on the remains;
457     (c)  The remains contain whenever any such body, bodies, or
458remains come into its possession, charge, or control.
459Notification of the anatomical board is not required if the
460death was caused by crushing injury, the deceased had a
461contagious disease;
462     (d)  A legally authorized person, an autopsy was required
463to determine cause of death, the body was in a state of severe
464decomposition, or a family member objects to use of the remains
465body for medical education and research; or
466     (e)  The deceased person was a veteran of the United States
467Armed Forces, United States Reserve Forces, or National Guard
468and is eligible for burial in a national cemetery or was the
469spouse or dependent child of a veteran eligible for burial in a
470national cemetery.
471     (2)(1)  Before the final disposition of unclaimed remains,
472the person or entity in charge or control of the dead body or
473human remains shall make a reasonable effort to determine:
474     (a)  Determine the identity of the deceased person and
475shall further make a reasonable effort to contact any relatives
476of the such deceased person.
477     (b)  Determine whether or not the deceased person is
478eligible under 38 C.F.R. s. 38.620 for entitled to burial in a
479national cemetery as a veteran of the armed forces and, if
480eligible so, to cause the deceased person's remains or cremated
481remains to be delivered to a national cemetery shall make
482arrangements for such burial services in accordance with the
483provisions of 38 C.F.R.
484
485For purposes of this subsection, "a reasonable effort" includes
486contacting the National Cemetery Scheduling Office and the
487county veterans service office or regional office of the United
488States Department of Veterans Affairs.
489     (3)(2)  Unclaimed remains Such dead human bodies as
490described in this chapter shall be delivered to the anatomical
491board as soon as possible after death. When no family exists or
492is available, a funeral director licensed under this chapter may
493assume the responsibility of a legally authorized person and
494may, after 48 hours have elapsed from the time of death,
495authorize arterial embalming for the purposes of storage and
496delivery of unclaimed remains to the anatomical board. A funeral
497director licensed under this chapter is not liable for damages
498under this subsection.
499     (4)  The remains of a deceased person whose identity is not
500known may not be cremated, donated as an anatomical gift, buried
501at sea, or removed from the state.
502     (5)  If the anatomical board does not accept the unclaimed
503remains, the county commission, or its designated county
504department, of the county in which the remains are found or the
505death occurred may authorize and arrange for the burial or
506cremation of the entire remains. A board of county commissioners
507may, in accordance with applicable laws and rules, prescribe
508policies and procedures for final disposition of unclaimed
509remains by resolution or ordinance.
510     (6)(3)  This part does not Nothing herein shall affect the
511right of a medical examiner to hold human such dead body or
512remains for the purpose of investigating the cause of death or,
513nor shall this chapter affect the right of any court of
514competent jurisdiction to enter an order affecting the
515disposition of such body or remains.
516     (4)  In the event more than one legally authorized person
517claims a body for interment, the requests shall be prioritized
518in accordance with s. 732.103.
519
520For purposes of this chapter, the term "anatomical board" means
521the anatomical board of this state located at the University of
522Florida Health Science Center, and the term "unclaimed" means a
523dead body or human remains that is not claimed by a legally
524authorized person, as defined in s. 497.005, for interment at
525that person's expense.
526     Section 4.  Section 406.51, Florida Statutes, is
527transferred, renumbered as section 497.703, Florida Statutes,
528and amended to read:
529     497.703 406.51  Final disposition of unclaimed deceased
530veterans; contract requirements.-Any contract by a local
531governmental entity for the final disposition disposal of
532unclaimed human remains must provide for compliance with s.
533497.701(2) 406.50(1) and require that the procedures in 38
534C.F.R. s. 38.620, relating to disposition of unclaimed deceased
535veterans, are be followed.
536     Section 5.  Section 406.52, Florida Statutes, is
537transferred, renumbered as section 497.705, Florida Statutes,
538and amended to read:
539     (Substantial rewording of section. See
540     s. 406.52, F.S., for present text.)
541     497.705  Retention of human remains before use; claim after
542delivery to anatomical board; procedures for unclaimed remains
543of indigent persons.-
544     (1)  The anatomical board shall keep in storage all human
545remains that it receives for at least 48 hours before allowing
546their use for medical education and research. The anatomical
547board may, for any reason, refuse to accept unclaimed remains or
548the remains of an indigent person.
549     (2)  At any time before their use for medical education or
550research, human remains delivered to the anatomical board may be
551claimed by a legally authorized person. The anatomical board
552shall release the remains to the legally authorized person after
553payment of the anatomical board's expenses incurred for
554transporting, embalming, and storing the remains.
555     (3)(a)  A board of county commissioners may, in accordance
556with applicable laws and rules, prescribe policies and
557procedures for the final disposition of the unclaimed remains of
558an indigent person whose remains are found, or whose death
559occurred in the county, by resolution or ordinance.
560     (b)  A person licensed under this chapter is not liable for
561any damages resulting from cremating or burying such human
562remains at the written direction of the board of county
563commissioners or its designee.
564     Section 6.  Section 406.53, Florida Statutes, is
565transferred, renumbered as section 497.707, Florida Statutes,
566and amended to read:
567     (Substantial rewording of section. See
568     s. 406.53, F.S., for present text.)
569     497.707  Unclaimed remains of indigent person; exemption
570from notice to the anatomical board.-A county commission or
571designated county department that receives a report of the
572unclaimed remains of an indigent person, notwithstanding s.
573497.701(1), is not required to notify the anatomical board of
574the remains if:
575     (1)  The indigent person's remains are decomposed or
576mutilated by wounds;
577     (2)  A legally authorized person or a relative by blood or
578marriage claims the remains for final disposition at his or her
579expense or, if such relative or legally authorized person is
580also an indigent person, in a manner consistent with the
581policies and procedures of the board of county commissioners of
582the county in which the remains are found or the death occurred;
583     (3)  The deceased person was a veteran of the United States
584Armed Forces, United States Reserve Forces, or National Guard
585and is eligible for burial in a national cemetery or was the
586spouse or dependent child of a veteran eligible for burial in a
587national cemetery; or
588     (4)  A funeral director licensed under this chapter
589certifies that the anatomical board has been notified and either
590accepted or declined the remains.
591     Section 7.  Section 406.55, Florida Statutes, is
592transferred, renumbered as section 497.709, Florida Statutes,
593and amended to read:
594     497.709 406.55  Contracts for delivery of human remains
595body after death prohibited.-The anatomical board may not enter
596is specifically prohibited from entering into any contract, oral
597or written, that provides for whereby any sum of money to shall
598be paid to any living person in exchange for which the delivery
599of that person's remains body of said person shall be delivered
600to the anatomical board when the such living person dies.
601     Section 8.  Section 406.56, Florida Statutes, is
602transferred, renumbered as section 497.711, Florida Statutes,
603and amended to read:
604     497.711 406.56  Acceptance of human remains bodies under
605will.-If any person being of sound mind executes shall execute a
606will leaving his or her remains body to the anatomical board for
607the advancement of medical education and research science and
608the such person dies within the geographical limits of the
609state, the anatomical board may is hereby empowered to accept
610and receive the person's remains such body.
611     Section 9.  Section 406.57, Florida Statutes, is
612transferred, renumbered as section 497.713, Florida Statutes,
613and amended to read:
614     497.713 406.57  Distribution of human remains dead bodies.-
615The anatomical board or its duly authorized agent shall take and
616receive human remains the bodies delivered to it as provided in
617under the provisions of this chapter and shall:
618     (1)  Distribute the remains them equitably to and among the
619medical and dental schools, teaching hospitals, medical
620institutions, and health-related teaching programs that require
621cadaveric material for study; or
622     (2)  Loan the remains same may be loaned for examination or
623study purposes to recognized associations of licensed embalmers
624or funeral directors, or medical or dental examining boards, for
625educational or research purposes at the discretion of the
626anatomical board.
627     Section 10.  Section 406.58, Florida Statutes, is
628transferred, renumbered as section 497.715, Florida Statutes,
629and amended to read:
630     497.715 406.58  Fees; authority to accept additional funds;
631annual audit.-
632     (1)  The anatomical board may:
633     (a)  Adopt is empowered to prescribe a schedule of fees to
634be collected from the institution or association to which the
635human remains bodies, as described in this chapter, are
636distributed or loaned to defray the costs of obtaining and
637preparing the remains such bodies.
638     (b)(2)  The anatomical board is hereby empowered to Receive
639money from public or private sources, in addition to the fees
640collected from the institution or association to which human
641remains the bodies are distributed, to be used to defray the
642costs of embalming, handling, shipping, storing, cremating, and
643otherwise storage, cremation, and other costs relating to the
644obtaining and using the remains. use of such bodies as described
645in this chapter; the anatomical board is empowered to
646     (c)  Pay the reasonable expenses, as determined by the
647anatomical board, incurred by a funeral establishment or removal
648service licensed under this chapter any person delivering human
649remains the bodies as described in this chapter to the
650anatomical board. and is further empowered to
651     (d)  Enter into contracts and perform such other acts as
652are necessary for to the proper performance of its duties.;
653     (2)  The Department of Financial Services shall keep and
654annually audit a complete record of all fees and other financial
655transactions of the said anatomical board and shall annually
656submit be kept and audited annually by the Department of
657Financial Services, and a report of the such audit shall be made
658annually to the University of Florida.
659     Section 11.  Section 406.59, Florida Statutes, is
660transferred, renumbered as section 497.717, Florida Statutes,
661and amended to read:
662     497.717 406.59  Institutions receiving human remains
663bodies.-A No university, school, college, teaching hospital,
664institution, or association may not shall be allowed or
665permitted to receive any human remains such body or bodies as
666described in this chapter until its facilities are have been
667inspected and approved by the anatomical board. Human remains
668All such bodies received by such university, school, college,
669teaching hospital, institution, or association may not shall be
670used for any no other purpose other than the promotion of
671medical education and research science.
672     Section 12.  Section 406.60, Florida Statutes, is
673transferred, renumbered as section 497.719, Florida Statutes,
674and amended to read:
675     497.719 406.60  Disposition of human remains bodies after
676use.-At any time When human remains any body or bodies or part
677or parts of any body or bodies, as described in this chapter,
678shall have been used for, and are not deemed of any no further
679value to, medical or dental science, then the person or persons
680having charge of the remains said body or parts of said body may
681dispose of the remains or any part thereof by cremation.
682     Section 13.  Section 406.61, Florida Statutes, is
683transferred, renumbered as section 497.721, Florida Statutes,
684and amended to read:
685     497.721 406.61  Selling, buying, or conveying human remains
686bodies outside or within state prohibited; exceptions;,
687penalty.-
688     (1)  Any person who sells or buys human remains or any part
689thereof, body or parts of bodies as described in this chapter or
690any person except a recognized Florida medical or dental school
691who transmits or conveys or causes to be transmitted or conveyed
692such remains body or part thereof parts of bodies to any place
693outside or within this state, commits a misdemeanor of the first
694degree, punishable as provided in s. ss. 775.082 or s. and
695775.083. However, this chapter does not prohibit the anatomical
696board from transporting human remains specimens outside the
697state for educational or scientific purposes or prohibit the
698transport of human remains, any part of such remains bodies,
699parts of bodies, or tissue specimens for purposes in furtherance
700of lawful examination, investigation, or autopsy conducted
701pursuant to s. 406.11. Any person, institution, or organization
702that conveys human remains bodies or any part thereof within,
703parts of bodies into, or out of the state for medical education
704or research purposes must shall notify the anatomical board of
705such intent and receive approval from the anatomical board.
706     (2)  Any entity accredited by the American Association of
707Museums may convey plastinated human remains bodies or any part
708thereof parts of bodies into or out of the state for exhibition
709and public educational purposes without the consent of the
710anatomical board if the accredited entity:
711     (a)  Notifies the anatomical board of the conveyance and
712the duration and location of the exhibition at least 30 days
713before the intended conveyance.
714     (b)  Submits to the anatomical board a description of the
715remains bodies or any part thereof parts of bodies and the name
716and address of the company providing the remains bodies or any
717part thereof parts of bodies.
718     (c)  Submits to the anatomical board documentation that the
719remains were each body was donated by the decedent or his or her
720next of kin for purposes of plastination and public exhibition,
721or, in lieu of such documentation, an affidavit stating that the
722remains were each body was donated directly by the decedent or
723his or her next of kin for such purposes to the company
724providing the remains body and that such company has a donation
725form on file for the remains body.
726     (3)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(c) and in lieu of the
727documentation or affidavit required under paragraph (2)(c), for
728a plastinated body that, before July 1, 2009, was exhibited in
729this state by any entity accredited by the American Association
730of Museums that exhibited plastinated human remains in this
731state before July 1, 2009, such an accredited entity may submit
732an affidavit to the anatomical board stating that the remains
733were body was legally acquired and that the company providing
734the remains body has acquisition documentation on file for the
735remains body. This subsection expires January 1, 2012.
736     Section 14.  Section 406.54, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
737     Section 15.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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