CHAPTER 192

HB 1320 - FINAL VERSION

04/21/2022   1522s

2022 SESSION

22-2176

11/05

HOUSE BILL 1320

AN ACT relative to public exposure of deceased human bodies.

SPONSORS: Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Schultz, Merr. 18; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Woods, Merr. 23; Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf. 8; Rep. Vail, Hills. 30; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 17; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill repeals the prohibition against displaying a dead human body for longer than 24 hours unless such body is properly embalmed.  The bill also provides that if final disposition of the body has not occurred with 48 hours after the funeral home obtains physical custody, the body must be embalmed, maintained at a temperature under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or encased in a closed container.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/21/2022   1522s 22-2176

11/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT relative to public exposure of deceased human bodies.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

192:1  New Section; Embalmers and Funeral Directors; Deceased Human Bodies.  Amend RSA 325 by inserting after section 40-a the following new section:

325:40-b  Care of Deceased Human Bodies.  If final disposition has not occurred within 48 hours after the funeral home obtains actual physical custody of the body, the body shall be embalmed or maintained at a temperature of under 40 degrees Fahrenheit or encased in a closed container with methods employed to prevent leakage.

192:2  Repeal.  RSA 325:40-a, relative to the display of deceased human bodies for longer than 24 hours, is repealed.

192:3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 17, 2022

Effective Date: August 16, 2022