HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1843 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2208
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sally P. Kerans
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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 relative to abandoned remains.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Sally P. Kerans | 13th Essex | 1/18/2023 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1843 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2208
By Representative Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2208) of Sally P. Kerans relative to abandoned remains or dead bodies. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to abandoned remains.
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 38 of the Massachusetts General Laws shall be amended by adding the following definition:
“Abandoned Remains”- The remains or a dead body that no one has taken legal authority of the body for a period of 15 days.
SECTION 2. Chapter 38 of the Massachusetts General Laws shall be amended by inserting after Section 16, the following new Section:
Section 17. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of the chief medical officer shall accept for temporary storage abandoned remains, as defined in this chapter, of persons who have died of natural causes in facilities licensed by the department of public health under MGL Chapter 111 Section 71 or under MGL Chapter 111 Section 51 or other facilities upon written request of the appropriate facility administrator, in the case of abandonment, no designated next of kin, or written plan of disposition. The office may subsequently release the body to the department of transitional assistance as allowed by Section 13 of this Chapter.