Senate Bill No. 142

Senate Bill No. 142-Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

(On Behalf of Washoe County Public Administrator
and Public Guardian)

February 18, 1997
____________

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

SUMMARY--Revises provisions governing disposition of cremated remains of certain dead bodies. (BDR 40-686)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: Yes.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to cremated remains; revising provisions governing the disposition of the cremated remains of certain dead bodies; prohibiting the operator of a crematory from charging a public officer a fee for storing such cremated remains; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

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Section 1 NRS 451.695 is hereby amended to read as follows:
451.695 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2:
(a) The agent who orders cremation is responsible for the disposition of cremated remains. If within 30 days after cremation the person named in the authorization has not claimed particular remains and no other disposition is specified in the authorization, the operator of a crematory may place the urn containing those remains in a common compartment with other unclaimed urns. The operator may charge a fee for storage when the urn is claimed.
[2.] (b) If within 2 years after cremation the agent has not claimed the remains or specified their ultimate disposition, the operator may dispose of the remains in any manner not prohibited by NRS 451.700. The agent is liable to the operator for all reasonable expenses of disposition.
[3.] 2. If cremation was ordered pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 451.650:
(a) The operator may dispose of the remains in any manner not prohibited by NRS 451.700, if the remains are not claimed by the agent within 60 days after cremation.
(b) The agent is liable to the operator for all reasonable expenses of disposition.
(c) The operator shall not charge a fee for storage of the remains.
3. An operator who complies with subsection 1 or 2, or both, has no further legal liability concerning the remains so treated.
Sec. 2 The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the provisions of this act.
Sec. 3 The amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to offenses that are committed before the effective date of this act.
Sec. 4. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.