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Committee clarifies timeline for disposition of human remains after Medical Examiner concerns
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Summary
HB14-81, requiring disposition of remains within 60 days of certain permit actions, passed with a clarification to ensure the Medical Examiner is not required to hold remains beyond investigation periods; mortuary testimony stressed refrigeration capacity and administrative timing.
The committee passed HB14-81 with a clarifying amendment to address concerns raised by the medical examiner about unintended retention requirements.
Masashiko Kobayashi, medical examiner for the City and County of Honolulu, said he supports the bill’s intent to reduce burdens on grieving families but asked for clarifying language so a medical examiner or coroner would not be expected to retain remains longer than necessary while investigations proceed. "We support the bill's good intent," Kobayashi said, but requested language to avoid unintentionally affecting transfers following completion of investigations.
Jay Morford, president of the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association, said mortuaries typically request permits when burial or cremation dates are tentatively scheduled and that refrigeration-capacity constraints factor into logistics. He urged clarity on whether the 60‑day clock should run from the permit issuance or be restarted on affidavits for amended dates; committee agreed the 60 days should generally start from permit issuance and that affidavits would restart the clock if dates change.
The committee adopted clarifying language to specify that, where applicable, the later of the permit issuance or an affidavit for amendment should govern the 60‑day timeline and passed the bill with amendments.
Next steps: HB14-81 is amended to clarify timing and was passed out of committee.
