This bill modifies existing laws regarding the cremation of deceased individuals and the medical certification of death records. Specifically, it amends RSA 325-A:18, I to remove the requirement that a medical examiner must have "viewed the body and" conducted a personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death before issuing a certificate for cremation. Instead, the bill stipulates that the medical examiner must conduct "an inquiry" and issue a certificate before cremation can occur, whether the death happened within the state or if the body is being transferred out of state. Additionally, it amends RSA 5-C:71, I to eliminate the requirement for presenting a burial permit "with the body" to a medical examiner for obtaining the medical examiner's certificate.

Furthermore, the bill revises RSA 5-C:64, VI to allow for the medical certification of death due to natural causes to be completed by various qualified individuals in the absence of the deceased's attending physician, APRN, or physician assistant. Notably, it removes the stipulation that the person determining the cause of death must have "viewed the deceased within 24 hours after death." The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage, with an effective date of August 9, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 325-A:18, 5-C:71, 5-C:64
Version adopted by both bodies: 325-A:18, 5-C:71, 5-C:64
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 325-A:18, 5-C:71, 5-C:64