Disposition of human remains: scattering at sea.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included information about local agencies and school districts not being affected by the bill, which is not directly supported in the official source material.

Scattering Human Remains at Sea: No Docks Allowed

The bill updates the rules for scattering cremated or hydrolyzed human remains at sea, adding that it is not allowed from docks connected to shore.

What This Bill Does

• Updates existing laws about where and how human remains can be scattered at sea.
• Adds a rule saying remains cannot be scattered from docks attached to the land.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to scatter cremated or hydrolyzed human remains at sea.

Terms To Know

hydrolyzed human remains

Human remains processed through a chemical process called alkaline hydrolysis.

at sea

Includes inland navigable waters of California, except lakes and streams, as long as it is more than 500 yards from the shoreline.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify a new effective date for these changes.
• It only applies to scattering remains at sea and does not cover other methods of disposition.

Official Summary Text

SB 344, as amended, Weber Pierson.
Health care service plans: financial risk requirement.
Disposition of human remains: scattering at sea.
Existing law provides for the disposition of human remains and makes specified acts relating to human remains, including improperly disposing of human remains, a crime. Existing law authorizes cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains to be taken by boat from any harbor in this state, or by air, and scattered at sea. Existing law defines the phrase “at sea” to include the inland navigable waters of this state, exclusive of lakes and streams, provided that no such scattering may take place within 500 yards of the shoreline. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a bridge or pier.
This bill would additionally specify that these provisions do not allow the scattering of cremated human remains or hydrolyzed human remains from a dock attached to the shore. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to demonstrate that it has a fiscally sound operation and adequate provision against the risk of insolvency, that it assumes full financial risk on a prospective basis for the provision of covered health care services, and that it has a procedure for the prompt payment or denial of provider and subscriber or enrollee claims.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF