Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Forensic Practice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel adopts amendment and advances bill to let law enforcement use donated remains for cadaver-dog training
Summary
The committee adopted amendment 20260077s and passed SB410, establishing written-consent safeguards, chain-of-custody procedures, oversight by the Police Standards and Training Council, and disposal rules treating remains as medical waste for cadaver canine training.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 410 on Thursday after adopting a committee amendment that clarifies oversight, disposal and procedural safeguards for law-enforcement possession of human remains used in cadaver canine training.
Senator Bill Ganon introduced SB410, which the Department of Safety requested, saying the bill fills a gap in New Hampshire law by providing an ethical framework for agencies to use donated portions of human remains for training. “It protects the public safety while respecting deceased and their families,” he told the committee.
Lieutenant Chris Storm of the New Hampshire State Police said the program is limited to accredited law-enforcement training, requires written consent from next of kin (or prior consent from the individual), and mandates credentialed oversight, chain-of-custody documentation and compliance with health and safety rules. “Currently, only two states, Wyoming and Montana, have this law and allow this practice,” Storm said.
Testimony from funeral-industry representatives supported the bill. David Bryant, a funeral director and president-elect of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association, and Julie Tibo, the association’s president, said the practice should mirror voluntary anatomical-donor programs and emphasized dignity for families. Tibo said the association preferred oversight to remain with accredited law enforcement rather than opening the process to outside nonprofits.
During executive session the committee considered and adopted amendment 20260077s. Lieutenant Storm summarized the changes: the amendment clarifies that final disposition may follow medical-waste rules already applied by hospitals and specifies that the Police Standards and Training Council will be the oversight repository for written policies; agencies participating must file and follow those policies. The committee then voted to pass SB410 as amended; votes were recorded by voice and the transcript does not list a roll-call tally.
With the amendment, supporters said the bill balances the training needs of cadaver-dog teams with protections for donors and families. The committee’s action sends the amended measure to the next stage of the legislative process.
