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H.B. 437 Enrolled

             1     

FUNERAL SERVICES LICENSING ACT

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Jon J. Greiner

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies provisions of the Funeral Services Licensing Act related to the
             11      cremation and disposition of cremated human remains and the distribution of preneed
             12      funeral arrangement funds.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    provides definitions pertaining to the cremation and disposition of cremated human
             16      remains;
             17          .    provides an authorization process for a funeral service establishment to cremate
             18      human remains, including the required content of a cremation authorization form;
             19          .    provides a criminal penalty for individuals who remove valuables from human
             20      remains without authorized permission;
             21          .    provides for record keeping by a funeral service establishment of the contacts
             22      between the establishment and persons who deliver and receive the human remains
             23      of persons cremated at the establishment's crematory;
             24          .    provides guidelines regarding the use and acceptance of cremation containers;
             25          .    provides for cremation procedures to be followed by a funeral service establishment,
             26      including the required receipt or proof of a death certificate, the removal of a
             27      pacemaker or other battery powered implant from the human remains prior to
             28      cremation, verification of the identification of the human remains, and return of the
             29      cremated remains to an authorizing agent or the agent's designee;


             30          .    provides for the final disposition of cremated remains and limitation of liability on
             31      the part of a funeral service establishment; and
             32          .    modifies requirements regarding the distribution of preneed funeral arrangement
             33      funds by a funeral service establishment.
             34      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             35          None
             36      Other Special Clauses:
             37          None
             38      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             39      AMENDS:
             40          58-9-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 144
             41          58-9-705, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 49
             42      ENACTS:
             43          58-9-607, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          58-9-608, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          58-9-609, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46          58-9-610, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             47          58-9-611, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             48          58-9-612, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             49     
             50      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             51          Section 1. Section 58-9-102 is amended to read:
             52           58-9-102. Definitions.
             53          In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
             54          (1) "Authorizing agent" means a person legally entitled to authorize the cremation of
             55      human remains.
             56          [(1)] (2) "Beneficiary" means the individual who, at the time of the beneficiary's death,
             57      is to receive the benefit of the property and services purchased under a preneed funeral


             58      arrangement.
             59          [(2)] (3) "Board" means the Board of Funeral Service created in Section 58-9-201 .
             60          (4) "Body part" means:
             61          (a) a limb or other portion of the anatomy that is removed from a person or human
             62      remains for medical purposes during treatment, surgery, biopsy, autopsy, or medical research;
             63      or
             64          (b) a human body or any portion of a body that has been donated to science for medical
             65      research purposes.
             66          [(3)] (5) "Buyer" means a person who purchases a preneed funeral arrangement.
             67          [(4)] (6) "Calcination" means a process in which a dead human body is reduced by
             68      intense heat to a residue that is not as substantive as the residue that follows cremation.
             69          (7) "Cremated remains" means all the remains of a cremated body recovered after the
             70      completion of the cremation process, including pulverization which leaves only bone fragments
             71      reduced to unidentifiable dimensions and may possibly include the residue of foreign matter
             72      including casket material, bridgework, or eyeglasses that were cremated with the human
             73      remains.
             74          [(5)] (8) "Cremation" means the [reduction of a dead human body by direct flame to
             75      residue that includes bone fragments.] technical process, using direct flame and heat, that
             76      reduces human remains to bone fragments through heat and evaporation and includes the
             77      processing and usually the pulverization of the bone fragments.
             78          (9) "Cremation chamber" means the enclosed space within which the cremation process
             79      takes place and which is used exclusively for the cremation of human remains.
             80          (10) "Cremation container" means the container:
             81          (a) in which the human remains are transported to the crematory and placed in the
             82      cremation chamber for cremation; and
             83          (b) that meets substantially all of the following standards:
             84          (i) composed of readily combustible materials suitable for cremation;
             85          (ii) able to be closed in order to provide a complete covering for the human remains;


             86          (iii) resistant to leakage or spillage;
             87          (iv) rigid enough for handling with ease; and
             88          (v) able to provide protection for the health, safety, and personal integrity of crematory
             89      personnel.
             90          (11) "Crematory" means the building or portion of a building that houses the cremation
             91      chamber and the holding facility.
             92          [(6)] (12) "Direct disposition" means the disposition of a dead human body:
             93          (a) as quickly as law allows;
             94          (b) without preparation of the body by embalming; and
             95          (c) without an attendant funeral service or graveside service.
             96          [(7)] (13) "Disposition" means the final disposal of a dead human body by:
             97          (a) earth interment;
             98          (b) above ground burial;
             99          (c) cremation;
             100          (d) calcination;
             101          (e) burial at sea;
             102          (f) delivery to a medical institution; or
             103          (g) other lawful means.
             104          [(8)] (14) "Embalming" means replacing body fluids in a dead human body with
             105      preserving and disinfecting chemicals.
             106          [(9)] (15) (a) "Funeral merchandise" means any of the following into which a dead
             107      human body is placed in connection with the transportation or disposition of the body:
             108          (i) a vault;
             109          (ii) a casket; or
             110          (iii) other personal property.
             111          (b) "Funeral merchandise" does not include:
             112          (i) a mausoleum crypt;
             113          (ii) an interment receptacle preset in a cemetery; or


             114          (iii) a columbarium niche.
             115          [(10)] (16) "Funeral service" means a service, rite, or ceremony performed:
             116          (a) with respect to the death of a human; and
             117          (b) with the body of the deceased present.
             118          [(11)] (17) "Funeral service director" means an individual licensed under this chapter
             119      who may engage in all lawful professional activities regulated and defined under the practice of
             120      funeral service.
             121          [(12)] (18) (a) "Funeral service establishment" means a place of business at a specific
             122      street address or location licensed under this chapter that is devoted to:
             123          (i) the embalming, care, custody, shelter, preparation for burial, and final disposition of
             124      dead human bodies; and
             125          (ii) the furnishing of services, merchandise, and products purchased from the
             126      establishment as a preneed provider under a preneed funeral arrangement.
             127          (b) "Funeral service establishment" includes:
             128          (i) all portions of the business premises and all tools, instruments, and supplies used in
             129      the preparation and embalming of dead human bodies for burial, cremation, and final disposition
             130      as defined by division rule; and
             131          (ii) a facility used by the business in which funeral services may be conducted.
             132          [(13)] (19) "Funeral service intern" means an individual licensed under this chapter who
             133      is permitted to:
             134          (a) assist a funeral service director in the embalming or other preparation of a dead
             135      human body for disposition;
             136          (b) assist a funeral service director in the cremation, calcination, or pulverization of a
             137      dead human body or its remains; and
             138          (c) perform other funeral service activities under the supervision of a funeral service
             139      director.
             140          [(14)] (20) "Graveside service" means a funeral service held at the location of
             141      disposition.


             142          [(15)] (21) "Memorial service" means a service, rite, or ceremony performed:
             143          (a) with respect to the death of a human; and
             144          (b) without the body of the deceased present.
             145          [(16)] (22) "Practice of funeral service" means:
             146          (a) supervising the receipt of custody and transportation of a dead human body to
             147      prepare the body for:
             148          (i) disposition; or
             149          (ii) shipment to another location;
             150          (b) entering into a contract with a person to provide professional services regulated
             151      under this chapter;
             152          (c) embalming or otherwise preparing a dead human body for disposition;
             153          (d) supervising the arrangement or conduct of:
             154          (i) a funeral service;
             155          (ii) a graveside service; or
             156          (iii) a memorial service;
             157          (e) cremation, calcination, or pulverization of a dead human body or the body's remains;
             158          (f) supervising the arrangement of:
             159          (i) a disposition; or
             160          (ii) a direct disposition;
             161          (g) facilitating:
             162          (i) a disposition; or
             163          (ii) a direct disposition;
             164          (h) supervising the sale of funeral merchandise by a funeral establishment;
             165          (i) managing or otherwise being responsible for the practice of funeral service in a
             166      licensed funeral service establishment;
             167          (j) supervising the sale of a preneed funeral arrangement; and
             168          (k) contracting with or employing individuals to sell a preneed funeral arrangement.
             169          [(17)] (23) (a) "Preneed funeral arrangement" means a written or oral agreement sold in


             170      advance of the death of the beneficiary under which a person agrees with a buyer to provide at
             171      the death of the beneficiary any of the following as are typically provided in connection with a
             172      disposition:
             173          (i) goods;
             174          (ii) services, including:
             175          (A) embalming services; and
             176          (B) funeral directing services;
             177          (iii) real property; or
             178          (iv) personal property, including:
             179          (A) a casket;
             180          (B) another primary container;
             181          (C) a cremation or transportation container;
             182          (D) an outer burial container;
             183          (E) a vault;
             184          (F) a grave liner;
             185          (G) funeral clothing and accessories;
             186          (H) a monument;
             187          (I) a grave marker; and
             188          (J) a cremation urn.
             189          (b) "Preneed funeral arrangement" does not include a policy or product of life insurance
             190      providing a death benefit cash payment upon the death of the beneficiary which is not limited to
             191      providing the products or services described in Subsection [(17)] (23)(a).
             192          (24) "Processing" means the reduction of identifiable bone fragments after the
             193      completion of the cremation process to unidentifiable bone fragments by manual means.
             194          [(18)] (25) "Pulverization" means [a grinding process that reduces the residue of a
             195      cremation or calcination into a powdery substance] the reduction of identifiable bone fragments
             196      after the completion of the cremation and processing to granulated particles by manual or
             197      mechanical means.


             198          [(19)] (26) "Sales agent" means an individual licensed under this chapter as a preneed
             199      funeral arrangement sales agent.
             200          (27) "Temporary container" means a receptacle for cremated remains usually made of
             201      cardboard, plastic, or similar material designed to hold the cremated remains until an urn or
             202      other permanent container is acquired.
             203          [(20)] (28) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-9-501 .
             204          [(21)] (29) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-9-502 .
             205          (30) "Urn" means a receptacle designed to permanently encase the cremated remains.
             206          Section 2. Section 58-9-607 is enacted to read:
             207          58-9-607. Authorization to cremate -- Penalties for removal of items from human
             208      remains.
             209          (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a funeral service establishment may not
             210      cremate human remains until it has received:
             211          (a) a cremation authorization form signed by an authorizing agent;
             212          (b) a completed and executed burial transit permit or similar document, as provided by
             213      state law, indicating that human remains are to be cremated; and
             214          (c) any other documentation required by the state, county, or municipality.
             215          (2) (a) The cremation authorization form shall contain, at a minimum, the following
             216      information:
             217          (i) the identity of the human remains and the time and date of death, including a signed
             218      declaration of visual identification of the deceased or refusal to visually identify the deceased;
             219          (ii) the name of the funeral director and funeral service establishment that obtained the
             220      cremation authorization;
             221          (iii) notification as to whether the death occurred from a disease declared by the
             222      department of health to be infectious, contagious, communicable, or dangerous to the public
             223      health;
             224          (iv) the name of the authorizing agent and the relationship between the authorizing
             225      agent and the decedent;


             226          (v) a representation that the authorizing agent has the right to authorize the cremation
             227      of the decedent and that the authorizing agent is not aware of any living person with a superior
             228      or equal priority right to that of the authorizing agent, except that if there is another living
             229      person with a superior or equal priority right, the form shall contain a representation that the
             230      authorizing agent has:
             231          (A) made reasonable efforts to contact that person;
             232          (B) been unable to do so; and
             233          (C) no reason to believe that the person would object to the cremation of the decedent;
             234          (vi) authorization for the funeral service establishment to cremate the human remains;
             235          (vii) a representation that the human remains do not contain a pacemaker or other
             236      material or implant that may be potentially hazardous or cause damage to the cremation
             237      chamber or the person performing the cremation;
             238          (viii) the name of the person authorized to receive the cremated remains from the
             239      funeral service establishment;
             240          (ix) the manner in which the final disposition of the cremated remains is to take place, if
             241      known;
             242          (x) a listing of each item of value to be delivered to the funeral service establishment
             243      along with the human remains, and instructions as to how each item should be handled;
             244          (xi) the signature of the authorizing agent, attesting to the accuracy of all
             245      representations contained on the authorization form;
             246          (xii) if the cremation authorization form is being executed on a preneed basis, the form
             247      shall contain the disclosure required for preneed programs under this chapter; and
             248          (xiii) except for a preneed cremation authorization, the signature of the funeral director
             249      of the funeral service establishment that obtained the cremation authorization.
             250          (b) (i) The individual referred to in Subsection (2)(a)(xiii) shall execute the funeral
             251      authorization form as a witness and is not responsible for any of the representations made by the
             252      authorizing agent.
             253          (ii) The funeral director or the funeral service establishment shall warrant to the


             254      crematory that the human remains delivered to the funeral service establishment have been
             255      positively identified as the decedent listed on the cremation authorization form by the
             256      authorizing agent or a designated representative of the authorizing agent.
             257          (iii) The authorizing agent or the agent's designee may make the identification referred
             258      to in Subsection (2)(b)(ii) in person or by photograph.
             259          (3) (a) A funeral service establishment may not accept unidentified human remains for
             260      cremation.
             261          (b) If a funeral service establishment takes custody of a cremation container subsequent
             262      to the human remains being placed within the container, it can rely on the identification made
             263      before the remains were placed in the container.
             264          (c) The funeral service establishment shall place appropriate identification on the
             265      exterior of the cremation container based on the prior identification.
             266          (4) (a) A person who removes or possesses dental gold or silver, jewelry, or mementos
             267      from human remains:
             268          (i) with purpose to deprive another over control of the property is guilty of an offense
             269      and subject to the punishments provided in Section 76-6-412 ;
             270          (ii) with purpose to exercise unauthorized control and with intent to temporarily deprive
             271      another of control over the property is guilty of an offense and subject to the punishments
             272      provided in Section 76-6-404.5 ; and
             273          (iii) under circumstances not amounting to Subsection (4)(a)(i) or (ii) and without
             274      specific written permission of the individual who has the right to control those remains is guilty
             275      of a class B misdemeanor.
             276          (b) The fact that residue or any unavoidable dental gold or dental silver or other
             277      precious metals remain in a cremation chamber or other equipment or a container used in a prior
             278      cremation is not a violation of Subsection (4)(a).
             279          Section 3. Section 58-9-608 is enacted to read:
             280          58-9-608. Recordkeeping.
             281          (1) (a) A funeral service establishment shall furnish to the person who delivers human


             282      remains to the establishment for cremation a receipt signed by a representative of the
             283      establishment and the person making the delivery, showing:
             284          (i) the date and time of the delivery;
             285          (ii) the type of casket or alternative container delivered;
             286          (iii) the name of the person from whom the human remains were received;
             287          (iv) the name of the funeral establishment or other entity with whom the person making
             288      the delivery is affiliated;
             289          (v) the name of the person who received the human remains on behalf of the funeral
             290      service establishment; and
             291          (vi) the name of the decedent.
             292          (b) The funeral service establishment shall keep a copy of the receipt in its permanent
             293      records for a period of seven years.
             294          (2) (a) Upon release of cremated remains, a funeral service establishment shall furnish
             295      to the person who receives the cremated remains a receipt signed by a representative of the
             296      funeral service establishment and the person who receives the remains, showing:
             297          (i) the date and time of the release;
             298          (ii) the name of the person to whom the cremated remains were released; and
             299          (iii) if applicable:
             300          (A) the name of the funeral establishment, cemetery, or other entity with whom the
             301      person receiving the cremated remains is affiliated;
             302          (B) the name of the person who released the cremated remains on behalf of the funeral
             303      service establishment; and
             304          (C) the name of the decedent.
             305          (b) (i) The receipt shall contain a representation from the person receiving the cremated
             306      remains confirming that the remains will not be used for any improper purpose.
             307          (ii) Upon release of the cremated remains, the person to whom the remains were
             308      released may transport them in any manner in the state, without a permit, and dispose of them in
             309      accordance with this chapter.


             310          (c) The funeral service establishment shall retain a copy of the receipt in its permanent
             311      records for a period of seven years.
             312          (3) (a) The funeral service establishment shall maintain at its place of business a
             313      permanent record of each cremation that took place at its crematory.
             314          (b) The permanent record shall contain:
             315          (i) the name of the decedent;
             316          (ii) the date of cremation;
             317          (iii) the final disposition of the cremated remains; and
             318          (iv) any other document required by this chapter.
             319          Section 4. Section 58-9-609 is enacted to read:
             320          58-9-609. Cremation containers.
             321          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a funeral service establishment may not
             322      make or enforce a rule requiring that human remains be:
             323          (i) placed in a casket before cremation; or
             324          (ii) cremated in a casket.
             325          (b) A funeral service establishment may not refuse to accept human remains for
             326      cremation because they are not in a casket.
             327          (2) (a) Human remains must be delivered to a crematory in a casket or cremation
             328      container.
             329          (b) Human remains may not be removed from a casket or cremation container once
             330      delivered to the crematory, and the casket or cremation container shall be cremated with the
             331      human remains, unless:
             332          (i) the funeral service establishment has been provided with written instructions to the
             333      contrary by the authorizing agent; or
             334          (ii) the funeral service establishment does not accept metal caskets for cremation.
             335          Section 5. Section 58-9-610 is enacted to read:
             336          58-9-610. Cremation procedures.
             337          (1) A funeral service establishment may not cremate human remains until a death


             338      certificate is completed and filed with the office of vital statistics and the county health
             339      department as indicated on the regular medical certificate of death or the coroner's certificate.
             340          (2) (a) A funeral service establishment may not cremate human remains with a
             341      pacemaker or other battery powered potentially hazardous implant in place.
             342          (b) (i) An authorizing agent for the cremation of human remains is responsible for
             343      informing the funeral service establishment in writing on the cremation authorization form about
             344      the presence of a pacemaker or other battery powered potentially hazardous implant in the
             345      human remains to be cremated.
             346          (ii) (A) The authorizing agent is ultimately responsible to ensure that a pacemaker or
             347      other implant is removed prior to cremation.
             348          (B) If the authorizing agent informs the funeral service establishment of the presence of
             349      a pacemaker or other battery powered implant under Subsection (2)(b)(i) and the funeral service
             350      establishment fails to have it removed prior to cremation, then the funeral service establishment
             351      and the authorizing agent are jointly liable for all resulting damages.
             352          (3) Only authorized persons are permitted in the crematory while human remains are in
             353      the crematory area awaiting cremation, being cremated, or being removed from the cremation
             354      chamber.
             355          (4) (a) Simultaneous cremation of the human remains of more than one person within
             356      the same cremation chamber or processor is not allowed, unless the funeral service
             357      establishment has received specific written authorization to do so from the authorizing agent of
             358      each person to be cremated.
             359          (b) The written authorization exempts the funeral license establishment from liability for
             360      co-mingling of the cremated remains during the cremation process.
             361          (5) A funeral service establishment shall:
             362          (a) verify the identification of human remains as indicated on a cremation container
             363      immediately before placing them in the cremation chamber and attach a metal identification tag
             364      to the container; and
             365          (b) remove the identification tag from the cremation container and place the


             366      identification tag near the cremation chamber control where it shall remain until the cremation
             367      process is complete.
             368          (6) Upon completion of a cremation, the funeral service establishment shall:
             369          (a) in so far as is possible, remove all of the recoverable residue of the cremation
             370      process from the cremation chamber;
             371          (b) separate all other residue from the cremation process from remaining bone
             372      fragments, in so far as possible, and process the bone fragments so as to reduce them to
             373      unidentifiable particles; and
             374          (c) remove anything other than the unidentifiable bone particles from the cremated
             375      residuals, as far as is possible, and dispose of that material.
             376          (7) (a) A funeral service establishment shall pack cremated remains, including the
             377      identification tag referred to in Subsection (5)(a), in a temporary container or urn ordered by the
             378      authorizing agent.
             379          (b) The container or urn shall be packed in clean packing materials and not be
             380      contaminated with any other object unless otherwise directed by the authorizing agent.
             381          (c) If the cremated remains cannot fit within the designated temporary container or urn,
             382      the funeral service establishment shall:
             383          (i) return the excess to the authorizing agent or the agent's representative in a separate
             384      container; and
             385          (ii) mark both containers or urns on the outside with the name of the deceased person
             386      and an indication that the cremated remains of the named decedent are in both containers or
             387      urns.
             388          (8) (a) If the cremated remains are to be shipped, then the funeral services establishment
             389      shall pack the designated temporary container or urn in a suitable, sturdy container.
             390          (b) The funeral service establishment shall have the remains shipped only by a method
             391      that:
             392          (i) has an available internal tracing system; and
             393          (ii) provides a receipt signed by the person accepting delivery.


             394          Section 6. Section 58-9-611 is enacted to read:
             395          58-9-611. Disposition of cremated remains.
             396          (1) (a) An authorizing agent shall provide the person with whom cremation
             397      arrangements are made with a signed statement specifying the final disposition of the cremated
             398      remains, if known.
             399          (b) The funeral services establishment shall retain a copy of the statement.
             400          (2) (a) The authorizing agent is responsible for the disposition of the cremated remains.
             401          (b) If the authorizing agent or the agent's representative has not specified the ultimate
             402      disposition of or claimed the cremated remains within 60 days from the date of the cremation,
             403      the funeral service establishment may dispose of the remains in any manner permitted by law,
             404      except scattering.
             405          (c) The authorizing agent shall reimburse the funeral services establishment for all
             406      reasonable costs incurred in disposing of the cremated remains under Subsection (2)(b).
             407          (d) The person or entity disposing of cremated remains under this section:
             408          (i) shall make and keep a record of the disposition of the remains; and
             409          (ii) is discharged from any legal obligation or liability concerning the remains once the
             410      disposition has been made.
             411          (e) Subsection (2)(d)(ii) applies to cremated remains in the possession of a funeral
             412      services establishment or other responsible party as of May 5, 2008, or any time after that date.
             413          (3) (a) An authorizing agent may direct a funeral service establishment to dispose of or
             414      arrange for the disposition of cremated remains:
             415          (i) in a crypt, niche, grave, or scattering garden located in a dedicated cemetery;
             416          (ii) by scattering them over inhabited public land, the sea, or other public waterways
             417      subject to health and environmental laws and regulations; or
             418          (iii) in any manner on the private property of a consenting owner.
             419          (b) If cremated remains are to be disposed of on private property, other than dedicated
             420      cemetery property, the authorizing agent shall provide the funeral service establishment with the
             421      written consent of the property owner prior to disposal of the remains.


             422          (c) In order to scatter cremated remains under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) or (iii), the remains
             423      must be reduced to a particle size of one-eighth inch or less and removed from their closed
             424      container.
             425          (4) A funeral service establishment may not release cremated remains for scattering
             426      under this section to the authorizing agent or the agent's designated representative until the
             427      funeral service establishment is given a receipt that shows the proper filing has been made with
             428      the local registrar of births and deaths.
             429          Section 7. Section 58-9-612 is enacted to read:
             430          58-9-612. Limitation of liability.
             431          (1) An authorizing agent who signs a cremation authorization form warrants the
             432      truthfulness of the facts set forth on the form, including:
             433          (a) the identity of the deceased whose remains are to be cremated; and
             434          (b) the authorizing agent's authority to order the cremation.
             435          (2) A funeral service establishment may rely upon the representations made by an
             436      authorizing agent under Subsection (1).
             437          (3) The authorizing agent is personally and individually liable for all damage resulting
             438      from a misstatement or misrepresentation made under Subsection (1).
             439          (4) (a) A funeral service establishment may arrange for the cremation of and cremate
             440      human remains upon receipt of a cremation authorization form signed by an authorizing agent.
             441          (b) A funeral service establishment that arranges a cremation, cremates human remains,
             442      or releases or disposes of cremated human remains pursuant to a cremation authorization form
             443      is not liable for an action it takes pursuant to that authorization.
             444          (5) A funeral service establishment is not responsible or liable for any valuables
             445      delivered to the establishment with human remains to be cremated.
             446          (6) A funeral service establishment may refuse to arrange for a cremation, to accept
             447      human remains for cremation, or to perform a cremation:
             448          (a) if the establishment is aware of a dispute concerning the cremation of the human
             449      remains and it has not received a court order or other suitable confirmation that the dispute has


             450      been resolved;
             451          (b) if the establishment has a reasonable basis for questioning any of the representations
             452      made by an authorizing agent; or
             453          (c) for any other lawful reason.
             454          (7) (a) If a funeral service establishment is aware of a dispute concerning the release or
             455      disposition of cremated remains in its possession, the establishment may refuse to release the
             456      remains until:
             457          (i) the dispute has been resolved; or
             458          (ii) it has received a court order authorizing the release or disposition of the remains.
             459          (b) A funeral service establishment is not liable for its refusal to release or dispose of
             460      cremated remains in accordance with this Subsection (7).
             461          Section 8. Section 58-9-705 is amended to read:
             462           58-9-705. Distribution of funds.
             463          (1) Interest earned on trust funds shall be available to the provider according to the
             464      priority set forth in Section 58-9-704 .
             465          (2) The amount of payments made into the corpus of the trust and any other amount
             466      which has been paid into the corpus of the trust shall be paid to the provider in the amount
             467      credited to a specific account upon the event of one of the following:
             468          (a) the death of the beneficiary which shall be demonstrated to the trustee by the
             469      provider by furnishing to the trustee:
             470          (i) a request for payment from the trust; and
             471          (ii) a certified copy of the death certificate of the beneficiary; or
             472          (b) revocation of the preneed funeral arrangement contract by either the provider or the
             473      buyer according to the terms and conditions of the contract, which shall be demonstrated to the
             474      trustee by the provider by furnishing to the trustee satisfactory evidence that:
             475          (i) the contract has been revoked; and
             476          (ii) the provider has paid all funds due to the buyer or beneficiary.
             477          [(3) After the provider completes all of the provider's obligations under the preneed


             478      funeral arrangement, the provider shall return all remaining funds under the preneed funeral
             479      arrangement to the estate of the beneficiary.]
             480          [(4)] (3) Upon an order of [any] a court having jurisdiction, all amounts that have been
             481      paid into the corpus of the trust shall be paid to the buyer or beneficiary in the event of:
             482          (a) a judgment to the benefit of a buyer or beneficiary upon a finding that:
             483          (i) the provider is in substantial breach of the contract; or
             484          (ii) there is substantial evidence that the provider is or will be unable to provide the
             485      personal property or services to the beneficiary under the contract;
             486          (b) a judgment of bankruptcy against the provider; or
             487          (c) [any] a finding by the court that determines the funds should be rightfully returned
             488      to the buyer or beneficiary.


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