An Act Regarding Permits for Burial of Cremated Remains

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation, regarding the burial of cremated remains, must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period so that it may apply to burials this spring; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2843, sub-§3-A,  as enacted by PL 2017, c. 101, §1, is amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Current law requires a person in charge of a public burying ground or, if no such person exists, an official of the municipality where the public burying ground is located, to endorse and provide the date cremated remains were buried on the permit for burial of cremated remains and return the permit to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the clerk of the municipality in which the public burying ground is located. It also requires the funeral director or authorized person to present a copy of each permit, after endorsement, to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the clerk of the municipality where the death occurred and to the clerk who issued the permit. This bill makes these required actions voluntary.