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H4833 • 2025

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Children Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Public Health (J)
Last action
2025-12-22
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-22 House

    Reported from the committee on Public Health

  2. 2025-12-22 House

    New draft of H2436

  3. 2025-12-22 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

Official Summary Text

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.4833

SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 38 the following chapter:-

CHAPTER 38A.

THE BENSON BILL.

Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Benson Bill".

Section 2. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

“Child,” any individual aged 5 years or younger.

“Office,” the office of the chief medical examiner.

Section 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the office

shall be prohibited from assessing any fees or charges, including but not limited to, fees for cremation viewings, on families for the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body.

Section 4. Annually, not later than December 31,

the office shall file a report on its work pertaining to the removal, transportation, or handling of deceased children’s bodies with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on public health. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the total number of child cases handled by the office; (ii) any costs the office absorbed related to the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body; and (iii) any recommendations for additional funding if necessary.

Section 5. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.

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