SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2404        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1391

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote the option of alkaline hydrolysis (AH).

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2404        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1391

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to promote the option of alkaline hydrolysis (AH).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new definition:

“Alkaline hydrolysis”, the dissolution process which uses chemicals, heat, agitation, pressure or other methods to accelerate natural decomposition and reduces the composition of the body to inorganic bone fragments and a sterile solution.

SECTION 2. Section 6 of said chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Such corporation may cremate” the following:- or provide alkaline hydrolysis services to

SECTION 3. Section 7 of said chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “for the disposal by cremation” the following:- or alkaline hydrolysis

SECTION 4. Section 9 of said chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended as follows by striking out the words “Cemetery and crematory” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Cemetery, crematory and alkaline hydrolysis facility

SECTION 5. Section 44 of said chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “deceased person shall not be cremated” the following:- or decomposed

SECTION 6. Section 48 of said chapter 114 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “the person having the charge of the crematory” the following:- or alkaline hydrolysis facility

SECTION 7. Facilities offering alkaline hydrolysis shall submit a report to the department of public health, by March 1 of the subsequent year, which shall include the number of services performed, the average cost for services, the average time for completion of services, and if the facility also offers cremation, the number of cremation services provided in the prior year.

SECTION 8. The department of public health shall provide written notice and guidance to cemeteries and crematories and alkaline hydrolysis facilities on the provisions of this act.