(a) Except with the express written permission of the person entitled to control the disposition of the reduced human remains, a person shall not do any of the following:

(1) Reduce the remains of more than one person at the same time and in the same reduction chamber, or introduce the remains of a second person into the reduction chamber until the reduction of preceding remains has been terminated and reasonable efforts have been employed to remove all fragments of preceding remains. The fact that there is residue in the reduction chamber or other equipment or a container used in a prior reduction does not violate this section.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 7054.9

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Health and Safety Code 19

(2) Dispose of reduced human remains in a manner or location that the remains are commingled with those of another person. This paragraph does not apply to the disposition of accumulated residue removed from equipment used in the reduction of human remains.

(3) Place reduced human remains or the remains of more than one person in the same reduced human remains container, except as follows:

(A) Members of the same family may be placed in a common container designed for the reduced remains of more than one person.

(B) Reduced human remains may be placed in a container that has been previously designated, at the time of sale, as being intended for the remains of more than one person.

(C) Disposal of the residue removed from equipment used in the reduction of human remains.

(b) (1) A person, including a corporation or partnership, that violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(2) Written authorization by the person entitled to control the disposition of the remains for the reduction facility to integrate the reduced human remains into the soil of a conservation area, as provided in Section 7054.5, is sufficient to comply with the permission requirement of subdivision (a).

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 399, Sec. 41. (AB 351) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2027, by its own provisions.)