Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, “removal” or “removed” refers to the disinterment, disentombment, or disinurnment of the remains of a deceased human.

     (b) Except as provided in subsection (e) and sections 4 and 5 of this chapter, the remains, either cremated or uncremated, of a deceased human shall not be removed from a cemetery without:

(1) a written order:

(A) that is issued by the Indiana department of health; and

(B) that authorizes the removal of the deceased’s remains;

(2) the written consent of:

(A) the owner of the cemetery; or

(B) the owner’s representative; and

(3) the written consent of a person or persons referred to in one (1) of the following clauses, which are listed according to priority:

(A) The individual who was the spouse of the deceased at the time of the deceased’s death.

(B) The surviving adult child of the deceased. If there is more than one (1) surviving adult child of the deceased, the requirement for written consent under this subdivision is satisfied if:

(i) any one (1) of the surviving adult children provides written consent to the removal of the deceased’s remains;

(ii) the consent provided under item (i) confirms that all other surviving adult children of the deceased have been notified of the proposed removal of the deceased’s remains; and

(iii) the Indiana department of health does not receive a written objection to the proposed removal from any of the deceased’s surviving adult children.

(C) The surviving parent of the deceased. If the deceased is survived by both parents, the requirement for written consent under this subdivision is satisfied if:

(i) either surviving parent provides written consent to the removal of the deceased’s remains; and

(ii) the Indiana department of health does not receive a written objection to the proposed removal from the other surviving parent.

(D) A guardian appointed by a court under IC 29-3-5-3.

(E) The individual in the next degree of kinship to the deceased under IC 29-1-2-1. If more than one (1) individual of the same degree of kinship is surviving, the requirement for written consent under this subdivision is satisfied if:

(i) any individual of that degree of kinship provides written consent to the removal of the deceased’s remains; and

(ii) the Indiana department of health does not receive a written objection to the proposed removal from any other surviving individual in the same degree of kinship.

     (c) Before issuing a written authorization under subsection (b), the Indiana department of health shall do the following:

(1) Obtain written evidence that a licensed funeral director has agreed to:

(A) be present at the removal and at the reinterment, reentombment, or reinurnment of the remains; and

(B) cause the completed order of the Indiana department of health to be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county where the removal occurs.

(2) Obtain a copy of:

(A) the written consent required under subsection (b)(3); or

(B) a court order obtained by a person under subsection (d).

     (d) If the written consent of an individual authorized under subsection (b)(3) to give consent is not available, a person who has made a request under this section to the Indiana department of health may petition a court to determine whether to waive the consent requirement of subsection (b)(3). In determining whether to waive the requirement, the court shall consider the viewpoint of any issue (as defined in IC 29-1-1-3) of the deceased. In a proceeding under this subsection, the court may not order the disinterment, disentombment, or disinurnment of the remains of a deceased human.

     (e) This subsection applies only if the human remains are on property owned or leased by a coal company. The remains, either cremated or uncremated, of a deceased human may be removed from a cemetery by a coal company if the coal company obtains a court order authorizing the disinterment, disentombment, or disinurnment. Before issuing a court order under this subsection, a court must conduct a hearing and be satisfied as to the following:

(1) That the property is owned or leased by the coal company.

(2) That the coal company has obtained the written consent of an individual authorized to give consent under subsection (b)(3). If the consent of an individual authorized to give consent under subsection (b)(3) is not available, the court may waive the requirement after considering the viewpoint of any issue (as defined in IC 29-1-1-3) of the deceased.

(3) That the department of natural resources, division of historic preservation and archeology, has received at least five (5) days written notice of the time, date, and place of any hearing under this subsection. The notice must describe the proposed place from which the remains will be removed.

(4) That a licensed funeral director has agreed to:

(A) be present at the removal and at the reinterment, reentombment, or reinurnment of the remains; and

(B) cause the completed order of the Indiana department of health to be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county where the removal occurs.

(5) That the coal company has caused a notice of the proposed removal to be published at least five (5) days before the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the removal will occur.

(6) That the coal company will notify the department of natural resources, division of historic preservation and archeology, after the hearing of the proposed time and date when the remains will be removed.

     (f) A:

(1) licensed funeral director; or

(2) cemetery owner;

is not liable in an action brought by any person because of the removal of a deceased’s remains under a written consent described in subsection (b)(3) or (e)(2) unless the licensed funeral director or the cemetery owner had actual notice before or at the time of the removal that a representation made in the consent described in subsection (b)(3) or (e)(2) was untrue.

     (g) The Indiana department of health may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.

As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.31. Amended by P.L.155-2002, SEC.11; P.L.113-2007, SEC.5; P.L.26-2021, SEC.3; P.L.56-2023, SEC.211.