The bill amends New Mexico's laws on cremation and funeral services by broadening the definition of "cremation" to encompass traditional methods as well as newer techniques such as reduction by chemical agents and biological processes. It introduces new legal language defining "cremation" as the reduction of a dead human body through direct flame, chemical agent, or biological processing, resulting in a residue that may include bone fragments. The bill also allows individuals to specify their preferred cremation method in written or express statements, thereby enhancing options for the disposition of remains. Additionally, it incorporates terms like "alkaline hydrolysis" and "natural organic reduction" to describe these nontraditional processes and clarifies that "cremated remains" can refer to either cremated remains or soil.

Moreover, the bill revises the licensing and operational requirements for funeral establishments, direct disposition establishments, and crematories, mandating specific conditions such as designated rooms and equipment. It emphasizes that licenses will not be issued or renewed unless establishments comply with the Funeral Services Act and board rules. The bill also updates cremation authorization requirements, allowing individuals to specify their preferred cremation method, clarifies the hierarchy of individuals authorized to determine the disposition of remains, and mandates that licensed establishments maintain accurate records of cremations for at least seven years. Additionally, it includes provisions for the lawful disposal of unclaimed cremains and establishes legal forms for cremation authorization to protect establishments from liability when disposing of such remains after a specified period.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 24-12A-1, 58-17-3, 61-32-3, 61-32-11, 61-32-19, 61-32-19.1