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Committee Report

February 28, 2024

H. 4376

Introduced by Reps. B. J. Cox, M. M. Smith, Caskey, T. Moore, Wooten, J. L. Johnson, Davis, Sessions, Guffey, Ligon, O'Neal, Pope, Hart and J. Moore

S. Printed 02/28/24--S.

Read the first time February 07, 2024

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The committee on Senate Family and Veterans' Services

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4376) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Sections 25-12-10, 25-12-30, and 25-12-50, all relating to the disposal of unclaimed human remains of a deceased, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

KATRINA SHEALY for Committee.

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A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTIONs 25-12-10, 25-12-30, and 25-12-50, all RELATING TO the DISPOSAL OF UNCLAIMED human REMAINS OF A deceased VETERAN, so as to provide that the provisions of chapter 12, title 25 also apply to the disposal of unclaimed human remains of a deceased veteran and to provide that the provisions of chapter 12, title 25 are mandatory under certain circumstances; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 17-5-590, RELATING TO the DISPOSITION OF REMAINS OF UNIDENTIFIED DEAD BODIES, so as to require CorONERS to release certain human remains that have been determined to be those of an unclaimed deceased veteran to a funeral home, funeral ESTABLISHMENT, or mortuary for DISPosition pursuant to chapter 12, title 25.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Section 25-12-10 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 25-12-10.  The unclaimed or cremated human remains of a veteran as defined in this chapter maymust be disposed of pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 2.  Section 25-12-30 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 25-12-30.  A coroner or a manager of a funeral home, funeral establishment, or mortuary, which has held in its possession cremated remains for more than one hundred twenty days from the date of cremation, mayshall determine, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, if the cremated remains are those of a veteran, and if so, mayshall dispose of those remains as provided in this chapter.

SECTION 3.  Section 25-12-50(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (A) If a coroner or a manager of a funeral home, funeral establishment, or mortuary ascertains the cremated remains in its possession are those of a veteran, and they have not been instructed by the person in control of the disposition of the decedent's remains to arrange for the final disposal or delivery of the cremated remains, the coroner or the manager of a funeral home, funeral establishment, or mortuary mayshall dispose of the cremated remains in the manner provided in this chapter or relinquish possession of the cremated remains to a veterans' service organization.

SECTION 4.  Section 17-5-590 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 17-5-590.  (A)If the body of a dead person is unidentifiable, the remains may not be cremated for at least thirty days. The coroner or medical examiner must have the remains buried or interred in a cemetery in the county in which the remains were found.

    (B) If a coroner has possession of human remains that have been identified and the deceased person has been determined to be an unclaimed veteran, then the coroner must release the remains to a funeral home, funeral establishment, or mortuary for disposition pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 12, Title 25.

SECTION 5.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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