SB 129

Abstract

Study; Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers; alkaline hydrolysis work group; report. Directs the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to convene a work group to study how to legalize, implement, and regulate the process of alkaline hydrolysis in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Board to report the results of the study to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on or before November 1, 2022.

Study; Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers; alkaline hydrolysis work group; report. Directs the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to convene a work group to study how to legalize, implement, and regulate the process of alkaline hydrolysis in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Board to report the results of the study to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on or before November 1, 2022.

Definitions; cremate; crematory; alkalinehydrolysis. Expands the definition of "cremate" to include reducinga dead human body to ashes and bone fragments through alkaline hydrolysis,a water-based process of dissolution using alkaline chemicals andagitation known as aquamation. The bill adds "aquamator" as an additionalterm for the existing definition of "cremator." The bill also adds"aquatorium" as an additional term for the existing definition of"crematory" or "crematorium" and amends the definition to includea facility containing a pressure vessel. Under current law, "cremate"means to reduce a dead human body to ashes and bone fragments bythe action of fire, and "crematory" or "crematorium" means a facilitycontaining a furnace for cremation of dead human bodies.