Brief⁽¹⁾

H.B. 2337 would allow the cremation of bodies of deceased persons by a district coroner as an alternative method for final disposal of a deceased person if no immediate family or next to kin claims the body. Under current law, burial is the only method available for final disposition.

The House Committee of the Whole amended the bill to provide the state or county officer responsible for the final disposition of the deceased person may authorize and order the cremation or burial of the body.

Background

Representative Hermes, sponsor of the bill, testified that H.B. 2337 would provide a less expensive method for county and local governments to dispose of unclaimed bodies. Representatives of the Board of Shawnee County Commissioners and the Kansas Board of Mortuary Arts testified in support of the bill. A representative of the Kansas Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association suggested amending the bill to require written legal authorization for the final disposition of the deceased body by a responsible public official.

The House Committee of the Whole clarification was suggested by the Kansas Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.

The fiscal note stated that there would no fiscal impact.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.