The bill amends Chapter 5-33.2 of the General Laws, which governs funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral service establishments. It introduces new definitions, including "disposition facility," which refers to structures used for the reduction of human remains by means of cremation or natural organic reduction (NOR), the latter being defined as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. The terminology is updated throughout the text, replacing "crematory" with "disposition facility" to reflect a broader range of services.

The bill establishes licensing and inspection requirements for disposition facilities, mandating that they obtain a license from the Department of Health before conducting cremations or NOR. It outlines protocols for the secure handling of human remains, including that disposition of human remains must occur without unreasonable delay and that a disposition facility shall not simultaneously conduct the process of reduction of more than one human remain within the same disposition chamber.

Additionally, the bill clarifies decision-making hierarchies for funeral arrangements in the absence of a contract, prioritizing designated agents and close relatives. It introduces a "natural organic reduction certificate" that must be issued by the Rhode Island office of state medical examiners prior to cremation or NOR. The bill specifies that disposition shall not take place until at least twenty-four hours after death, except in cases of contagious diseases.

The amendments also update the fee structure for funeral-related services and detail the responsibilities of funeral directors regarding burial-transit permits. Overall, the bill aims to streamline processes and clarify legal obligations in the management of funeral services and vital records.

Statutes affected:
2594: 23-1-54, 23-3-18