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Senate adopts amendments to coroner bill on unclaimed cremated remains, including felony for concealment
Summary
The Senate amended and reported favorably HB 23-31, which clarifies disposition of unclaimed cremated remains, codifies continuing education requirements for funeral directors, and adds a felony penalty for knowingly moving a body to conceal death.
Senators in the Committee of the Whole advanced House Bill 23-31 as amended after an extended floor discussion and a series of successful amendments.
Sen. Shane Thompson (Johnson) said the bill responds to guidance requested by district coroners by establishing how coroners should dispose of unclaimed cremated remains after a three-year unclaimed period and requiring a 30-day county newspaper notice. He cited KSA 73-3-04 when explaining that final disposition expenses for veterans are covered by county commissions and that many unclaimed cremains (Sedgwick County reported about 600 as of November) present an operational issue for coroners.
On the floor, Sen. Tyson offered Amendment 3408 to make it a class 7 felony to move a body with intent to hide the death — a response to a Linn County incident involving a 13-year-old victim. "This amendment would make it a felony...to move a body with intent to hide," Tyson said; members across the aisle supported the change and the amendment passed on a voice vote.
Sen. Clifford offered Amendment 3423 to remove the requirement that three of six annual continuing education hours be in person for licensed embalmers and funeral directors; Clifford said the in-person mandate posed a hardship for providers in Western Kansas and that allowing fully live online hours would ease the burden. That amendment was moved and agreed to by voice vote.
A language amendment was also debated to adjust wording from 'refuse' to 'is unable' to recognize families who lack resources to accept remains; after discussion, a compromise amendment was offered and adopted.
Sen. Thompson moved that the committee report HB 23-31 as amended favorably for passage; the motion carried by voice vote.
Next steps: the bill, as amended on the floor (including the felony provision, continuing-education modification, and language changes), was reported favorably for passage and will proceed as scheduled.
