Bill Text: IL SB2249 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that in the absence of a demonstrated public health hazard, the provision concerning the death of a person who had or is suspected of having an infectious or communicable disease shall be construed liberally to accommodate the rights of citizens and religious groups to bury their dead privately without the involvement of a licensed funeral director. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt rules for providing the decedent's next of kin or legally authorized representatives access to paperwork and permits necessary for the legal disposition of a decedent. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Failed) 2015-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SB2249 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SB2249-Introduced.html

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98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2013 and 2014 SB2249 Introduced 2/15/2013, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2305/7 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 22.05
Amends the Department of Public Health Act. Provides that in the absence of a demonstrated public health hazard, the provision concerning the death of a person who had or is suspected of having an infectious or communicable disease shall be construed liberally to accommodate the rights of citizens and religious groups to bury their dead privately without the involvement of a licensed funeral director. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for providing the decedent's next of kin or legally authorized representatives access to paperwork and permits necessary for the legal disposition of a decedent. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Public Health Act is amended
by changing Section 7 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2305/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 22.05)
Sec. 7. The Illinois Department of Public Health shall
adopt rules requiring that upon death of a person who had or is
suspected of having an infectious or communicable disease that
could be transmitted through contact with the person's body or
bodily fluids, the body shall be labeled "Infection Hazard", or
with an equivalent term to inform persons having subsequent
contact with the body, including any funeral director or
embalmer, to take suitable precautions. Such rules shall
require that the label shall be prominently displayed on and
affixed to the outer wrapping or covering of the body if the
body is wrapped or covered in any manner. Responsibility for
such labeling shall lie with the attending physician who
certifies death, or if the death occurs in a health care
facility, with such staff member as may be designated by the
administrator of the facility. The Department may adopt rules
providing for the safe disposal of human remains. To the extent
feasible without endangering the public's health, the

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Department shall respect and accommodate the religious beliefs
of individuals in implementing this Section.
In the absence of a demonstrated public health hazard, this
Section shall be construed liberally to accommodate the rights
of citizens and religious groups to bury their dead privately
without the involvement of a licensed funeral director. The
Department shall adopt rules for providing the decedent's next
of kin or legally authorized representatives access to
paperwork and permits necessary for the legal disposition of a
decedent. The paperwork shall include, but not be limited to,
the permit for disposition of a dead human body and the
certificate of death.
(Source: P.A. 93-829, eff. 7-28-04.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.