Bill > S1612

This bill proposes to legalize and regulate alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative method of body disposition in Massachusetts, alongside traditional burial and cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis is defined as a process that reduces human remains to bone fragments and essential elements using heat, pressure, water, and chemical agents in a licensed facility. The bill systematically amends multiple chapters of Massachusetts law to explicitly include alkaline hydrolysis as a legal method of body disposition, updating references in various sections related to cemeteries, funeral establishments, and health regulations. Key provisions include establishing definitions for alkaline hydrolysis and hydrolysis facilities, allowing cemetery corporations to conduct this process, and setting guidelines for its use, such as requiring a 48-hour waiting period after death and mandating proper documentation and medical examination before the procedure. The bill also addresses the handling of unclaimed remains and ensures that alkaline hydrolysis is subject to the same regulatory oversight as cremation, with provisions for record-keeping, veteran recognition, and proper disposition of remains. By introducing this environmentally-friendly alternative, the bill provides Massachusetts residents with a new option for final body disposition that may have lower environmental impact compared to traditional methods.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1612