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Measure SB 344
Authors Weber Pierson  
Subject Disposition of human remains: scattering at sea.
Relating To relating to human remains.
Title An act to amend Section 7117 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to human remains.
Last Action Dt 2025-03-20
State Amended Senate
Status In Floor Process
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program Yes
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-07-17     Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Garcia.
2025-07-17     Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-07-16     From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 16).
2025-07-01     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-29     Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-05-15     In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-15     Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1090.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-13     Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-05-12     From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
2025-05-02     Set for hearing May 12.
2025-04-28     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 916.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-03     Set for hearing April 28.
2025-04-02     Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2025-03-20     From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-19     Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-13     From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15.
2025-02-12     Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Amended Senate     2025-03-20
Introduced     2025-02-12
Last Version Text
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Weber Pierson</ns0:AuthorText>
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		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 7117 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to human remains.</ns0:Title>
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			<ns0:Subject>Disposition of human remains: scattering at sea.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p> Existing law provides for the disposition of human remains and makes specified acts relating to human remains, including improperly disposing of human remains, a crime. Existing law authorizes cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains to be taken by boat from any harbor in this state, or by air, and scattered at sea. Existing law defines the phrase “at sea” to include the inland navigable waters of this state, exclusive of lakes and streams, provided that no such scattering may take place within 500 yards of the shoreline. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a bridge or pier.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would additionally specify that these provisions do not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a dock attached to the shore. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
			<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 7117 of the 
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				 is amended to read:
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								(a)
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								Cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains may be taken by boat from any harbor in this state, or by air, and scattered at sea. Cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains shall be removed from their container before the remains are scattered at sea.
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								(b)
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								Any person who scatters at sea, either from a boat or from the air, any cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains shall file with the local registrar of births and deaths in the county nearest the point where the remains were scattered, a verified statement containing the name of the deceased person, the time and place of death, the place at which the cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains were scattered, and any other information that the local registrar of births and deaths may require.
						The first copy of the endorsed permit shall be filed with the local registrar of births and deaths within 10 days of disposition. The third copy shall be returned to the office of issuance.
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								(c)
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								For purposes of this section, the phrase “at sea” includes the inland navigable waters of this state, exclusive of lakes and streams, provided that no such scattering may take place within 500 yards of the shoreline. This section does not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a bridge, dock attached to the shore, or pier.
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								(d)
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								Notwithstanding any
						other provision of this code, the cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains of a deceased person may be scattered at sea as provided in this section and Section 103060.
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								(e)
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								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.
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					No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
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					B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
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					B of the California Constitution.
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Last Version Text Digest Existing law provides for the disposition of human remains and makes specified acts relating to human remains, including improperly disposing of human remains, a crime. Existing law authorizes cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains to be taken by boat from any harbor in this state, or by air, and scattered at sea. Existing law defines the phrase “at sea” to include the inland navigable waters of this state, exclusive of lakes and streams, provided that no such scattering may take place within 500 yards of the shoreline. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a bridge or pier.