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AB 351 would require licensing of natural organic reduction facilities; bureau drafting rules for 2027 start
Summary
The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau is developing draft regulatory text and application forms to license "reduction" (natural organic reduction) facilities under AB 351, which sets a delayed implementation date of Jan. 1, 2027. The bureau plans stakeholder meetings to review the draft before submitting regulations.
State legislation (AB 351) that would require the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to license and regulate natural organic reduction facilities was discussed at the May 28 advisory committee meeting. The bill includes a delayed implementation date of Jan. 1, 2027.
"Assembly Bill 351 would require the cemetery and funeral bureau to license and regulate reduction facilities," a bureau regulatory presenter said during the regulatory update. The presenter said the bureau is drafting proposed regulatory text and the associated application and expects to release draft materials and hold a public stakeholder meeting before filing a regulatory package with the Office of Administrative Law.
Bureau leadership told the committee they expect to host a special stakeholder meeting to review draft text and forms before the bureau's October meeting. The bureau also emphasized that the statutory implementation date means the bureau cannot accept or process reduction-facility establishment applications under the new licensing regime before Jan. 1, 2027.
Members of the public asked practical questions about related approvals. The bureau advised prospective facility operators that in addition to the bureau license, local zoning approval (city or county) and vessel approval from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be necessary. Bureau staff said zoning and CDPH approvals are typically obtained from local government and CDPH before a bureau establishment license is issued; the bureau will accept applications beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and an inspection by a bureau field representative generally is required before an establishment license will issue.
Ending: The bureau said it will publish draft regulatory text and hold stakeholder meetings prior to regulatory filing and will accept establishment applications starting Jan. 1, 2027, subject to local zoning and CDPH approvals.
