Public Act 0907 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2643 Enrolled LRB103 35293 RPS 65331 b

Public Act 103-0907

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code is amended by changing Sections 1-10, 10-25, 15-15, and 15-75 and by adding Section 15-56 as follows:

(225 ILCS 41/1-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 1-10. Definitions. As used in this Code:

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file.

"Applicant" means any person making application for a license. Any applicants or people who hold themselves out as applicants are considered licensees for purposes of enforcement, investigation, hearings, and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

"Board" means the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing and Disciplinary Board.

"Certificate of Death" means a certificate of death as referenced in the Illinois Vital Records Act.

"Chain of custody record" means a record that establishes the continuous control of a uniquely identified body, body parts, or human remains.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Funeral director and embalmer" means a person who is licensed and qualified to practice funeral directing and to prepare, disinfect and preserve dead human bodies by the injection or external application of antiseptics, disinfectants or preservative fluids and materials and to use derma surgery or plastic art for the restoring of mutilated features. It further means a person who restores the remains of a person for the purpose of funeralization whose organs or bone or tissue has been donated for anatomical purposes.

"Funeral director and embalmer intern" means a person licensed by the Department who is qualified to render assistance to a funeral director and embalmer in carrying out the practice of funeral directing and embalming under the supervision of the funeral director and embalmer.

"Embalming" means the process of sanitizing and chemically treating a deceased human body in order to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to retard organic decomposition, to render the remains safe to handle while retaining naturalness of tissue, and to restore an acceptable physical appearance for funeral viewing purposes.

"Funeral director" means a person, known by the title of "funeral director" or other similar words or titles, licensed by the Department who practices funeral directing.

"Funeral establishment", "funeral chapel", "funeral home", or "mortuary" means a building or separate portion of a building having a specific street address or location and devoted to activities relating to the shelter, care, custody and preparation of a deceased human body and which may contain facilities for funeral or wake services.

"Licensee" means a person licensed under this Code as a funeral director, funeral director and embalmer, or funeral director and embalmer intern. Anyone who holds himself or herself out as a licensee or who is accused of unlicensed practice is considered a licensee for purposes of enforcement, investigation, hearings, and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

"Owner" means the individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, estate, or agent thereof, or other person or combination of persons who owns a funeral establishment or funeral business.

"Person" means any individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation, limited liability company, trust or estate, or other entity. "Person" includes both natural persons and legal entities.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Uniquely identified" means providing the deceased with individualized identification.

(Source: P.A. 102-881, eff. 1-1-23.)

(225 ILCS 41/10-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 10-25. Examinations. The Department shall authorize and hold examinations of applicants for licenses as licensed funeral directors and embalmers. The examination may include both practical demonstrations and written and oral tests and shall embrace the subjects of anatomy, sanitary science, health regulations in relation to the handling of deceased human bodies, identification rules and regulation in relation to the handling and storing of human bodies, measures used by funeral directors and embalmers for the prevention of the spread of diseases, the care, preservation, embalming, transportation, and burial of dead human bodies, and other subjects relating to the care and handling of deceased human bodies as set forth in this Article and as the Department by rule may prescribe.

Whenever the Secretary is not satisfied that substantial justice has been done in an examination, the Secretary may order a reexamination.

If an applicant neglects, fails without an approved excuse or refuses to take the next available examination offered for licensure under this Code, the fee paid by the applicant shall be forfeited to the Department and the application denied. If an applicant fails to pass an examination for licensure under this Code within 3 years after filing an application, the application shall be denied. However, the applicant may thereafter make a new application for examination which shall be accompanied by the required fee.

(Source: P.A. 96-1463, eff. 1-1-11.)

(225 ILCS 41/15-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 15-15. Complaints; investigations; hearings. The Department may investigate the actions of any applicant or of any person or persons rendering or offering to render services or any person holding or claiming to hold a license under this Code. When the Department receives a complaint against a licensee regarding violations of this Act, the Department shall inspect the premises of the licensee. When the Department receives a complaint against a licensee relating to the mishandling of human remains or the misidentification of human remains, the Department shall inspect the premises named in the complaint within 10 business days after receipt of the complaint.

The Department shall, before refusing to issue or renew a license or seeking to discipline a licensee under Section 15-75, at least 30 days before the date set for the hearing, (i) notify the accused in writing of the charges made and the time and place for the hearing on the charges, (ii) direct him or her to file a written answer to the charges under oath within 20 days after service, and (iii) inform the applicant or licensee that failure to answer shall result in a default being entered against the applicant or licensee.

At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Board or the hearing officer appointed by the Secretary shall proceed to hear the charges and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present any pertinent statements, testimony, evidence, and arguments. The Board or hearing officer may continue the hearing from time to time. In case the person, after receiving the notice, fails to file an answer, his or her license may, in the discretion of the Secretary be suspended, revoked, or placed on probationary status, or be subject to whatever disciplinary action the Secretary considers proper, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the person's practice or the imposition of a fine, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for that action under this Code. The written notice and any notice in the subsequent proceeding may be served by regular mail or email to the licensee's address of record.

(Source: P.A. 102-881, eff. 1-1-23.)

(225 ILCS 41/15-56 new)

Sec. 15-56. Chain of custody record. The Department shall require a funeral establishment to maintain an identification system that ensures that a funeral establishment is able to identify the human remains in its possession through final disposition.

(225 ILCS 41/15-75)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 15-75. Grounds for discipline; penalties.

(a) (Blank).

(a-5) Violations of this Code shall be punishable as follows:

(1) Intentionally or knowingly making a false statement on a Certificate of Death is a Class 4 felony.

(2) Intentionally or knowingly making or filing false records or reports in the practice of funeral directing and embalming, including, but not limited to, false records filed with State agencies or departments is a Class 4 felony.

(3) Intentionally or knowingly violating the chain of custody record requirements set forth in Section 15-56 is a Class 4 felony.

(4) Intentionally or knowingly violating the preparation rooms procedures and rules outlined in Section 15-55 is a Class 4 felony.

(5) Engaging in funeral directing or embalming without a license is a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) The Department may refuse to issue or renew, revoke, suspend, place on probation or administrative supervision, reprimand, or take other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as the Department may deem appropriate, including fines not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, with regard to any license under this the Code for any one or combination of the following:

(1) Fraud or any misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license under this Code or in connection with applying for renewal of a license under this Code.

(2) For licenses, conviction by plea of guilty or nolo contendere, finding of guilt, jury verdict, or entry of judgment or by sentencing of any crime, including, but not limited to, convictions, preceding sentences of supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender probation, under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States: (i) that is a felony or (ii) that is a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or that is directly related to the practice of the profession and, for initial applicants, convictions set forth in Section 15-72 of this Code Act.

(3) (Blank). Violation of the laws of this State relating to the funeral, burial or disposition of deceased human bodies or of the rules and regulations of the Department, or the Department of Public Health.

(4) Directly or indirectly paying or causing to be paid any sum of money or other valuable consideration for the securing of business or for obtaining authority to dispose of any deceased human body.

(5) Professional incompetence, gross negligence, malpractice, or untrustworthiness in the practice of funeral directing and embalming or funeral directing.

(6) (Blank).

(7) Engaging in, promoting, selling, or issuing burial contracts, burial certificates, or burial insurance policies in connection with the profession as a funeral director and embalmer, funeral director, or funeral director and embalmer intern in violation of any laws of the State of Illinois.

(8) Refusing, without cause, to surrender the custody of a deceased human body upon the proper request of the person or persons lawfully entitled to the custody of the body.

(9) Taking undue advantage of a client or clients as to amount to the perpetration of fraud.

(10) (Blank). Engaging in funeral directing and embalming or funeral directing without a license.

(11) Encouraging, requesting, or suggesting by a licensee or some person working on his behalf and with his consent for compensation that a person utilize the services of a certain funeral director and embalmer, funeral director, or funeral establishment unless that information has been expressly requested by the person. This does not prohibit general advertising or pre-need solicitation.

(12) Making or causing to be made any false or misleading statements about the laws concerning the disposition of human remains, including, but not limited to, the need to embalm, the need for a casket for cremation or the need for an outer burial container.

(13) (Blank).

(14) Embalming or attempting to embalm a deceased human body without express prior authorization of the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements for the body. This does not apply to cases where embalming is directed by local authorities who have jurisdiction or when embalming is required by State or local law. A licensee may embalm without express prior authorization if a good faith effort has been made to contact family members and has been unsuccessful and the licensee has no reason to believe the family opposes embalming.

(15) (Blank). Making a false statement on a Certificate of Death where the person making the statement knew or should have known that the statement was false.

(16) Soliciting human bodies after death or while death is imminent.

(17) Performing any act or practice that is a violation of this Code, the rules for the administration of this Code, or any federal, State or local laws, rules, or regulations governing the practice of funeral directing or embalming.

(18) Performing any act or practice that is a violation of Section 2 of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

(19) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.

(20) Taking possession of a dead human body without having first obtained express permission from the person holding the right to control the disposition in accordance with Section 5 of the Disposition of Remains Act or a public agency legally authorized to direct, control or permit the removal of deceased human bodies.

(21) Advertising in a false or misleading manner or advertising using the name of an unlicensed person in connection with any service being rendered in the practice of funeral directing or funeral directing and embalming. The use of any name of an unlicensed or unregistered person in an advertisement so as to imply that the person will perform services is considered misleading advertising. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent including the name of any owner, officer or corporate director of a funeral home, who is not a licensee, in any advertisement used by a funeral home with which the individual is affiliated, if the advertisement specifies the individual's affiliation with the funeral home.

(22) Charging for professional services not rendered, including filing false statements for the collection of fees for which services are not rendered.

(23) Failing to account for or remit any monies, documents, or personal property that belongs to others that comes into a licensee's possession.

(24) Treating any person differently to his detriment because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, or national origin.

(25) Knowingly making any false statements, oral or otherwise, of a character likely to influence, persuade or induce others in the course of performing professional services or activities.

(26) (Blank). Willfully making or filing false records or reports in the practice of funeral directing and embalming, including, but not limited to, false records filed with State agencies or departments.

(27) Failing to acquire continuing education required under this Code.

(28) (Blank).

(29) Aiding or assisting another person in violating any provision of this Code or rules adopted pursuant to this Code.

(30) Failing within 10 days, to provide information in response to a written request made by the Department.

(31) Discipline by another state, District of Columbia, territory, foreign nation, or governmental agency, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in this Section.

(32) (Blank).

(33) Mental illness or disability which results in the inability to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(34) Gross, willful, or continued overcharging for professional services, including filing false statements for collection of fees for which services are not rendered.

(35) Physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skill which results in a licensee's inability to practice under this Code with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(36) Failing to comply with any of the following required activities:

(A) When reasonably possible, a funeral director licensee or funeral director and embalmer licensee or anyone acting on his or her behalf shall obtain the express authorization of the person or persons responsible for making the funeral arrangements for a deceased human body prior to removing a body from the place of death or any place it may be or embalming or attempting to embalm a deceased human body, unless required by State or local law. This requirement is waived whenever removal or embalming is directed by local authorities who have jurisdiction. If the responsibility for the handling of the remains lawfully falls under the jurisdiction of a public agency, then the regulations of the public agency shall prevail.

(B) A licensee shall clearly mark the price of any casket offered for sale or the price of any service using the casket on or in the casket if the casket is displayed at the funeral establishment. If the casket is displayed at any other location, regardless of whether the licensee is in control of that location, the casket shall be clearly marked and the registrant shall use books, catalogues, brochures, or other printed display aids to show the price of each casket or service.

(C) At the time funeral arrangements are made and prior to rendering the funeral services, a licensee shall furnish a written statement of services to be retained by the person or persons making the funeral arrangements, signed by both parties, that shall contain: (i) the name, address and telephone number of the funeral establishment and the date on which the arrangements were made; (ii) the price of the service selected and the services and merchandise included for that price; (iii) a clear disclosure that the person or persons making the arrangement may decline and receive credit for any service or merchandise not desired and not required by law or the funeral director or the funeral director and embalmer; (iv) the supplemental items of service and merchandise requested and the price of each item; (v) the terms or method of payment agreed upon; and (vi) a statement as to any monetary advances made by the registrant on behalf of the family. The licensee shall maintain a copy of the written statement of services in its permanent records. All written statements of services are subject to inspection by the Department.

(D) In all instances where the place of final disposition of a deceased human body or the cremated remains of a deceased human body is a cemetery, the licensed funeral director and embalmer, or licensed funeral director, who has been engaged to provide funeral or embalming services shall remain at the cemetery and personally witness the placement of the human remains in their designated grave or the sealing of the above ground depository, crypt, or urn. The licensed funeral director or licensed funeral director and embalmer may designate a licensed funeral director and embalmer intern or representative of the funeral home to be his or her witness to the placement of the remains. If the cemetery authority, cemetery manager, or any other agent of the cemetery takes any action that prevents compliance with this paragraph (D), then the funeral director and embalmer or funeral director shall provide written notice to the Department within 5 business days after failing to comply. If the Department receives this notice, then the Department shall not take any disciplinary action against the funeral director and embalmer or funeral director for a violation of this paragraph (D) unless the Department finds that the cemetery authority, manager, or any other agent of the cemetery did not prevent the funeral director and embalmer or funeral director from complying with this paragraph (D) as claimed in the written notice.

(E) A funeral director or funeral director and embalmer shall fully complete the portion of the Certificate of Death under the responsibility of the funeral director or funeral director and embalmer and provide all required information. In the event that any reported information subsequently changes or proves incorrect, a funeral director or funeral director and embalmer shall immediately upon learning the correct information correct the Certificate of Death.

(37) A finding by the Department that the licensee, after having his or her license placed on probationary status or subjected to conditions or restrictions, violated the terms of the probation or failed to comply with such terms or conditions.

(38) (Blank).

(39) Being named as a perpetrator in an indicated report by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and, upon proof by clear and convincing evidence, being found to have caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(40) Habitual or excessive use or abuse of drugs defined in law as controlled substances, alcohol, or any other substance which results in the inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety.

(41) Practicing under a false or, except as provided by law, an assumed name.

(42) Cheating on or attempting to subvert the licensing examination administered under this Code.

(c) The Department may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend without a hearing, as provided for in the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the license of any person who fails to file a return, to pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or interest as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, until the time as the requirements of the tax Act are satisfied in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(d) No action may be taken under this Code against a person licensed under this Code unless the action is commenced within 5 years after the occurrence of the alleged violations. A continuing violation shall be deemed to have occurred on the date when the circumstances last existed that give rise to the alleged violation.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed or enforced to give a funeral director and embalmer, or his or her designees, authority over the operation of a cemetery or over cemetery employees. Nothing in this Section shall be construed or enforced to impose duties or penalties on cemeteries with respect to the timing of the placement of human remains in their designated grave or the sealing of the above ground depository, crypt, or urn due to patron safety, the allocation of cemetery staffing, liability insurance, a collective bargaining agreement, or other such reasons.

(f) All fines imposed under this Section shall be paid 60 days after the effective date of the order imposing the fine.

(g) (Blank).

(h) In cases where the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has previously determined a licensee or a potential licensee is more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has subsequently certified the delinquency to the Department, the Department may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke or suspend that person's license or may take other disciplinary action against that person based solely upon the certification of delinquency made by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in accordance with item (5) of subsection (a) of Section 2105-15 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(i) A person not licensed under this Code who is an owner of a funeral establishment or funeral business shall not aid, abet, assist, procure, advise, employ, or contract with any unlicensed person to offer funeral services or aid, abet, assist, or direct any licensed person contrary to or in violation of any rules or provisions of this Code. A person violating this subsection shall be treated as a licensee for the purposes of disciplinary action under this Section and shall be subject to cease and desist orders as provided in this Code, the imposition of a fine up to $10,000 for each violation and any other penalty provided by law.

(j) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, as amended, operates as an automatic suspension. The suspension may end only upon a finding by a court that the licensee is no longer subject to the involuntary admission or judicial admission and issues an order so finding and discharging the licensee, and upon the recommendation of the Board to the Secretary that the licensee be allowed to resume his or her practice.

(k) In enforcing this Code, the Department, upon a showing of a possible violation, may compel an individual licensed to practice under this Code, or who has applied for licensure under this Code, to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The Department may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning the mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The examining physician shall be specifically designated by the Department. The individual to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of this examination. The examination shall be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches. Failure of an individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall result in an automatic suspension without hearing.

A person holding a license under this Code or who has applied for a license under this Code who, because of a physical or mental illness or disability, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skill, is unable to practice the profession with reasonable judgment, skill, or safety, may be required by the Department to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Department as a condition, term, or restriction for continued, reinstated, or renewed licensure to practice. Submission to care, counseling, or treatment as required by the Department shall not be considered discipline of a license. If the licensee refuses to enter into a care, counseling, or treatment agreement or fails to abide by the terms of the agreement, the Department may file a complaint to revoke, suspend, or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. The Secretary may order the license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Department. Fines shall not be assessed in disciplinary actions involving physical or mental illness or impairment.

In instances in which the Secretary immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Department within 15 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Department shall have the authority to review the subject individual's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.

An individual licensed under this Code and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.

(Source: P.A. 102-881, eff. 1-1-23.)

Section 10. The Crematory Regulation Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 35 as follows:

(410 ILCS 18/5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Comptroller in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file. It is the duty of the applicant or licensee to inform the Comptroller of any change of address within 14 days, and such changes must be made either through the Comptroller's website or by contacting the Comptroller. The address of record shall be the permanent street address of the crematory.

"Alternative container" means a receptacle, other than a casket, in which human remains are transported to the crematory and placed in the cremation chamber for cremation. An alternative container shall be (i) composed of readily combustible or consumable materials suitable for cremation, (ii) able to be closed in order to provide a complete covering for the human remains, (iii) resistant to leakage or spillage, (iv) rigid enough for handling with ease, and (v) able to provide protection for the health, safety, and personal integrity of crematory personnel.

"Authorizing agent" means a person legally entitled to order the cremation and final disposition of specific human remains. "Authorizing agent" includes an institution of medical, mortuary, or other sciences as provided in Section 20 of the Disposition of Remains of the Indigent Act.

"Body parts" means limbs or other portions of the anatomy that are removed from a person or human remains for medical purposes during treatment, surgery, biopsy, autopsy, or medical research; or human bodies or any portion of bodies that have been donated to science for medical research purposes.

"Burial transit permit" means a permit for disposition of a dead human body as required by Illinois law.

"Casket" means a rigid container that is designed for the encasement of human remains, is usually constructed of wood, metal, or like material and ornamented and lined with fabric, and may or may not be combustible.

"Chain of custody record" means a record that establishes the continuous control of the deceased's body, body parts, or human remains.

"Comptroller" means the Comptroller of the State of Illinois.

"Cremated remains" means all human remains recovered after the completion of the cremation, which may possibly include the residue of any foreign matter including casket material, bridgework, or eyeglasses, that was cremated with the human remains.

"Cremation" means the technical process, using heat and flame, or alkaline hydrolysis that reduces human remains to bone fragments. The reduction takes place through heat and evaporation or through hydrolysis. Cremation shall include the processing, and may include the pulverization, of the bone fragments.

"Cremation chamber" means the enclosed space within which the cremation takes place.

"Cremation interment container" means a rigid outer container that, subject to a cemetery's rules and regulations, is composed of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or some similar material in which an urn is placed prior to being interred in the ground, and which is designed to withstand prolonged exposure to the elements and to support the earth above the urn.

"Cremation room" means the room in which the cremation chamber is located.

"Crematory" means the building or portion of a building that houses the cremation room and the holding facility.

"Crematory authority" means the legal entity which is licensed by the Comptroller to operate a crematory and to perform cremations.

"Final disposition" means the burial, cremation, or other disposition of a dead human body or parts of a dead human body.

"Funeral director" means a person known by the title of "funeral director", "funeral director and embalmer", or other similar words or titles, licensed by the State to practice funeral directing or funeral directing and embalming.

"Funeral establishment" means a building or separate portion of a building having a specific street address and location and devoted to activities relating to the shelter, care, custody, and preparation of a deceased human body and may contain facilities for funeral or wake services.

"Holding facility" means an area that (i) is designated for the retention of human remains prior to cremation, (ii) complies with all applicable public health law, (iii) preserves the health and safety of the crematory authority personnel, and (iv) is secure from access by anyone other than authorized persons. A holding facility may be located in a cremation room.

"Human remains" means the body of a deceased person, including any form of body prosthesis that has been permanently attached or implanted in the body.

"Licensee" means an entity licensed under this Act. An entity that holds itself as a licensee or that is accused of unlicensed practice is considered a licensee for purposes of enforcement, investigation, hearings, and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

"Niche" means a compartment or cubicle for the memorialization and permanent placement of an urn containing cremated remains.

"Person" means any person, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity, and in the case of any such business organization, its officers, partners, members, or shareholders possessing 25% or more of ownership of the entity.

"Processing" means the reduction of identifiable bone fragments after the completion of the cremation process to unidentifiable bone fragments by manual or mechanical means.

"Pulverization" means the reduction of identifiable bone fragments after the completion of the cremation process to granulated particles by manual or mechanical means.

"Scattering area" means an area which may be designated by a cemetery and located on dedicated cemetery property or property used for outdoor recreation or natural resource conservation owned by the Department of Natural Resources and designated as a scattering area, where cremated remains, which have been removed from their container, can be mixed with, or placed on top of, the soil or ground cover.

"Temporary container" means a receptacle for cremated remains, usually composed of cardboard, plastic or similar material, that can be closed in a manner that prevents the leakage or spillage of the cremated remains or the entrance of foreign material, and is a single container of sufficient size to hold the cremated remains until an urn is acquired or the cremated remains are scattered.

"Uniquely identified" means providing the deceased with individualized identification.

"Urn" means a receptacle designed to encase the cremated remains.

(Source: P.A. 100-97, eff. 1-1-18; 100-526, eff. 6-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(410 ILCS 18/35)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 35. Cremation procedures.

(a) Human remains shall not be cremated within 24 hours after the time of death, as indicated on the Medical Examiner's/Coroner's Certificate of Death. In any death, the human remains shall not be cremated by the crematory authority until a cremation permit has been received from the coroner or medical examiner of the county in which the death occurred and the crematory authority has received a cremation authorization form, executed by an authorizing agent, in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of this Act. In no instance, however, shall the lapse of time between the death and the cremation be less than 24 hours, unless (i) it is known the deceased has an infectious or dangerous disease and that the time requirement is waived in writing by the medical examiner or coroner where the death occurred or (ii) because of a religious requirement.

(b) Except as set forth in subsection (a) of this Section, a crematory authority shall have the right to schedule the actual cremation to be performed at its own convenience, at any time after the human remains have been delivered to the crematory authority, unless the crematory authority has received specific instructions to the contrary on the cremation authorization form.

(c) No crematory authority shall cremate human remains when it has actual knowledge that human remains contain a pacemaker or any other material or implant that may be potentially hazardous to the person performing the cremation.

(d) No crematory authority shall refuse to accept human remains for cremation because such human remains are not embalmed.

(e) Whenever a crematory authority is unable or unauthorized to cremate human remains immediately upon taking custody of the remains, the crematory authority shall place the human remains in a holding facility in accordance with the crematory authority's rules and regulations. The crematory authority must notify the authorizing agent of the reasons for delay in cremation if a properly authorized cremation is not performed within any time period expressly contemplated in the authorization.

(f) A crematory authority shall not accept a casket or alternative container from which there is any evidence of the leakage of body fluids.

(g) The casket or the alternative container shall be cremated with the human remains or destroyed, unless the crematory authority has notified the authorizing agent to the contrary on the cremation authorization form and obtained the written consent of the authorizing agent.

(h) The simultaneous cremation of the human remains of more than one person within the same cremation chamber, without the prior written consent of the authorizing agent, is prohibited except for common cremation pursuant to Section 11.4 of the Hospital Licensing Act. Nothing in this subsection, however, shall prevent the simultaneous cremation within the same cremation chamber of body parts delivered to the crematory authority from multiple sources, or the use of cremation equipment that contains more than one cremation chamber.

(i) No unauthorized person shall be permitted in the holding facility or cremation room while any human remains are being held there awaiting cremation, being cremated, or being removed from the cremation chamber.

(j) A crematory authority shall not remove any dental gold, body parts, organs, or any item of value prior to or subsequent to a cremation without previously having received specific written authorization from the authorizing agent and written instructions for the delivery of these items to the authorizing agent. Under no circumstances shall a crematory authority profit from making or assisting in any removal of valuables.

(k) Upon the completion of each cremation, and insofar as is practicable, all of the recoverable residue of the cremation process shall be removed from the cremation chamber.

(l) If all of the recovered cremated remains will not fit within the receptacle that has been selected, the remainder of the cremated remains shall be returned to the authorizing agent or the agent's designee in a separate container. The crematory authority shall not return to an authorizing agent or the agent's designee more or less cremated remains than were removed from the cremation chamber.

(m) A crematory authority shall not knowingly represent to an authorizing agent or the agent's designee that a temporary container or urn contains the cremated remains of a specific decedent when it does not.

(n) Cremated remains shall be shipped only by a method that has an internal tracing system available and that provides a receipt signed, in either paper or electronic format, by the person accepting delivery.

(o) A crematory authority shall maintain a chain of custody record, which is an identification system that ensures shall ensure that a crematory authority is it shall be able to identify the human remains in its possession throughout all phases of the cremation process.

(p) A crematory authority shall not take possession of unembalmed human remains that cannot be cremated within 24 hours unless it provides or maintains either of the following capable of maintaining a temperature of less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit: an operable refrigeration unit, with cleanable, noncorrosive interior and exterior finishes, or a suitable cooling room.

(Source: P.A. 102-824, eff. 1-1-23; 103-253, eff. 6-30-23.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2025