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Committee advances bill requiring funeral firms to notify county veterans affairs directors
Summary
A state House committee unanimously approved House Bill 427, which would require funeral directors and cemetery companies to notify county veterans affairs directors within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased service member and to provide families with the director’s contact information.
House Bill 427, authored by Representative Stets, was advanced unanimously by the House Committee on Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness on a voice vote and will move to the full House. The bill would require funeral directors, funeral entities and cemetery companies to notify the county veterans affairs director of the death of a service member who was a legal resident of the county within 96 hours of receipt of the remains and to provide the deceased’s family with the county veterans affairs director’s contact information.
The bill’s sponsor said the measure responds to families who were unaware of benefits available after a service member’s death. "This legislation comes after hearing of families that were not aware of the benefits available to them," Representative Stets said, asking the committee for its support to "ensure that the families of deceased service members receive the benefits that they've earned while serving our great nation." The committee’s chairman took the motion to bring up the bill on a motion by Representative Hamm, seconded by Representative Ghent.
Committee members voiced support and described the bill as bipartisan and straightforward. Chairman Gillan commended the sponsor and committee work, saying he had talked with local funeral directors who were "ready to aid in delivering timely help to the families of veterans who have passed away." Representative Banta described two constituent cases in which families scrambled and later were assisted.
During discussion Representative Haddock raised an operational concern unrelated to the bill’s text: delays at the Department of Vital Statistics tied to a new vital records system are slowing issuance of death certificates, which local funeral directors are reporting as a challenge. "Local funeral directors are struggling with it for veterans and just people that passed away," Haddock said, asking the committee to note the problem.
The committee recorded no negative votes and the bill was announced as passed unanimously by voice vote and referred to the floor. The bill text requires notification within 96 hours and requires funeral-related entities to give families the county veterans affairs director’s contact information; no funding provisions or enforcement penalties were specified in committee comment.
Next steps: HB 427 will be scheduled for consideration by the full House.
