The bill H. 4188 seeks to amend Section 17-5-590 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which pertains to the disposition of unidentified or unclaimed remains by coroners. The amendment expands the statute to include unclaimed remains and allows coroners to release remains to family members instead of strictly the next of kin, particularly in cases where the next of kin is charged with the death or is uncooperative in claiming the remains.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a coroner possesses human remains that have been identified as belonging to an unclaimed veteran, those remains must be released to a funeral home or mortuary for proper disposition. This legislation aims to streamline the process of handling unclaimed and unidentified remains while ensuring that family members can take responsibility when appropriate. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
03/20/2025: 17-5-590
02/05/2026: 17-5-590
Latest Version: 17-5-590