What's happening
This bill expands the definition of cremation to include any process authorized by the cemetery board, not just heat and flame.
Why it matters
Expands options for body disposition. By allowing the cemetery board to authorize new methods beyond just heat and flame, this could pave the way for environmentally friendly alternatives like alkaline hydrolysis (“water cremation”) or other emerging technologies.
Gives regulatory flexibility. The cemetery board can respond to new scientific advancements or public preferences without waiting for new legislation, potentially speeding up the adoption of safer, greener, or more culturally diverse practices.
Could affect funeral industry standards and costs. New permitted processes might provide more affordable, accessible, or customizable options for families, impacting funeral home operations and consumer choices.
Raises questions about oversight and public interest. Shifting authority to the cemetery board means increased importance of their regulatory decisions, raising the stakes for public input and transparency about what methods are deemed acceptable.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Cremation Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Broaden Cremation Definition
In Senate Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1234
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, DINOWITZ, GALEF, SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law, in relation to the definition of cremation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (h) of section 1502 of the not-for-profit corporation law, as added by chapter 579 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
(h) The term "cremation" means the technical process[,] using heat and flame[,] that reduces human remains to ashes and other residue or any other technical process to reduce human remains to cremains that the cemetery board deems in the public interest and authorizes pursuant to regulations promulgated by the cemetery board. "Cremation" shall include the processing, and may include the pulverization, of such ashes and other residue.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00838-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.