2014 -- H 8347

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LC005985

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - FUNERAL SERVICE

ESTABLISHMENTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: June 17, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-33.2-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-33.2 entitled "Funeral

Director/Embalmer Funeral Service Establishments" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-33.2-24. Proper authority for funeral arrangements and disposition of human

remains. -- Every licensed funeral director/embalmer, licensed funeral establishment, licensed

crematory, and cemetery shall comply with the following rules with respect to proper authority

for funeral arrangements and disposition of human remains:

      (1) If a licensed funeral establishment is a party to a funeral services contract, as defined

in section §5-33.1-2, for the benefit of a deceased person, only when executed by the principal,

him or herself, and the contract is still in effect at the time of that person's death, the terms of that

contract shall control the nature of the funeral goods and services to be provided, the manner in

which funeral services are to be conducted for the deceased, and the final disposition of the

deceased person's remains to the full extent provided in that contract. When the contract is

executed by the principal, him or herself, and specifies cremation as the chosen disposition, the

contract is considered sufficient legal authorization for cremation. No licensed funeral

establishment, licensed crematory, or cemetery, nor any of its agents or employees, may cancel or

materially alter any of the arrangements specified in that contract, even if requested to do so by a

member of the deceased person's family or a funeral planning agent designated pursuant to

chapter 33.3 of this title unless compliance with the terms of the original contract would result in

a violation of any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation, notwithstanding the

provisions of this chapter.

      (2) To the extent that there is no funeral services contract in effect at the time of death

for the benefit of the deceased person, indicating the wishes of the deceased person with respect

to the nature of the funeral goods and services to be provided, the manner in which funeral

services are to be conducted, or the final disposition of the deceased person's remains, then the

funeral establishment and its agents or employees shall follow the directions of the deceased

person's survivors, in the following order of priority:

      (i) An agent designated pursuant to chapter 33.3 of this title, if any;

      (ii) The surviving spouse or domestic partner of the deceased;

      (iii) The surviving adult children of the deceased;

      (iv) The surviving parent(s) of the deceased over the age of eighteen (18), or, if the

deceased is a minor, and there is a custody order relative to that child, the custodial parent, after

he or she signs an affidavit attesting that he or she does not know the whereabouts of the other

parent;

      (v) The surviving brother(s) or sister(s) of the deceased;

      (vi) The surviving adult grandchildren of the deceased;

      (vii) The surviving adult niece(s) or nephew(s) of the deceased;

      (viii) The guardian of the person of the deceased at the time of his or her death.

      (3) All licensed funeral directors/embalmers, licensed funeral establishments, licensed

crematories, cemeteries, and all their agents and employees shall be held harmless, and shall not

be subject to civil suit, either as individual(s), partnership(s), or corporation(s) for complying with

the provisions of this chapter.

      (4) For the purpose of this chapter, "domestic partner" shall be defined as a person who,

prior to the decedent's death, was in an exclusive, intimate, and committed relationship with the

decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:

      (i) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to

contract;

      (ii) Neither partner is married to anyone else;

      (iii) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the

state of Rhode Island;

      (iv) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of

death; and

      (v) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the

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following:

      (A) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;

      (B) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;

      (C) Two (2) of the following:

      (I) Joint ownership of motor vehicle;

      (II) Joint checking account;

      (III) Joint credit account;

      (IV) Joint lease; and/or

      (D) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent's will,

retirement contract or life insurance.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - FUNERAL SERVICE

ESTABLISHMENTS

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     This act would specify that the surviving parent(s) of a deceased person over the age of

eighteen (18), or if a minor, would have the authority to make funeral arrangements for the

deceased minor in the event that no agent, surviving spouse, domestic partner or surviving adult

children are living at the time of death. In certain instances the parent would need to sign an

affidavit regarding the whereabouts of the other parent.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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