Proposal describes how people may choose final arrangements for remains

The proposal says a person may use alkaline hydrolysis or natural organic reduction to handle human remains. Human remains include a body at any stage of decomposition and remains after cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.

The proposal lists who may direct the final handling of a deceased person's remains. The order starts with a person named in a durable power of attorney, then gives priority to a military designee in the stated case, a spouse, children, parents, siblings, other relatives, a person who assumes the costs when no next-of-kin does, and the county coroner or medical examiner. A person must be at least eighteen, mentally competent, and willing to take responsibility for the costs; a child may act through a legal or natural guardian in the stated circumstances. A person who knows someone has a higher priority must notify them before making arrangements. A higher-priority person who receives proper notice and does not object within forty-eight hours is treated as having waived that right. A higher-priority person's failure to object within forty-eight hours after proper notice counts as waiving that right.

The proposal describes when funeral homes may dispose of unclaimed remains and when veterans' groups may arrange their final handling. These provisions cover remains after cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction held by a funeral establishment or coroner. Before scattering, burying, interring, or delivering unclaimed remains under the stated option, the funeral establishment must send notice by confirmed mail to the last known address of the person or establishment that contracted for the service. A veterans' service organization may receive remains after eligibility is verified and must take reasonable steps to arrange burial in a veterans' cemetery. The funeral home must give notice at least ninety days before taking one of the listed steps with unclaimed remains.