The bill amends the Cemetery Regulation Act of 1968 by adding a new section, 12b, which mandates that cemetery owners who operate a crematory must establish and maintain a refrigeration unit suitable for storing deceased bodies within the crematory. If a body is not cremated or embalmed within 24 hours of its arrival, the cemetery owner or operator is required to store the body in the refrigeration unit at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, there are exceptions to this requirement. If the cemetery owner has a contract with a nearby facility that has a suitable refrigeration unit or operates a funeral establishment within 50 miles that meets the same criteria, they are not obligated to maintain a refrigeration unit at the crematory. Additionally, the bill stipulates that cemetery owners and operators must ensure compliance with specific articles of the occupational code and public health code related to crematory operations. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of three other specified bills in the 103rd Legislature.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 456.521, 456.543