House File 363 amends the Iowa Code regarding the final disposition of a decedent's remains. The bill specifies that the right to control the final disposition or make arrangements for a ceremony after a decedent's death is granted to competent adults, with the exception of individuals prohibited from acting as a designee under section 144C.8. This new provision ensures that individuals who are not eligible to make such decisions due to legal restrictions will not have authority over the decedent's remains.

Additionally, the bill modifies the forfeiture of authority for designees. It clarifies that a designee or person with authority will forfeit their rights if they are charged with serious crimes related to the decedent's death or if they fail to exercise their authority within a specified timeframe after being notified of the death. This change aims to ensure that the control of final arrangements is handled appropriately and that individuals who may have a conflict of interest or fail to act in a timely manner do not retain authority over the decedent's remains.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 144C.5
Reprinted: 144C.5, 144C.8
Enrolled: 144C.5, 144C.8