S9930 • 2025

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Sam Sutton
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Senate Floor Calendar
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.

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

What This Bill Does

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

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

2026-06-03 Senate
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
2026-06-03 Senate
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1666
2026-06-03 Senate
SUBSTITUTED BY A11146B
2026-05-15 Senate
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HEALTH
2026-05-15 Senate
PRINT NUMBER 9930B
2026-04-28 Senate
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HEALTH
2026-04-28 Senate
PRINT NUMBER 9930A
2026-04-16 Senate
REFERRED TO HEALTH

Official Summary Text

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains
Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          9930

                                    I N  S E N A T E

                                     April 16, 2026
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  SUTTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Health

        AN ACT to amend the public health  law,  in  relation  the  handling  of
          certain unclaimed bodies

          THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
        BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

     1    Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding  a  new  section
     2  4211-a to read as follows:
     3    § 4211-A. CADAVERS; UNCLAIMED; DELIVERY TO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 1.
     4  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  PROVISIONS  OF SECTION FORTY-TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN OF
     5  THIS TITLE, AND PRIOR TO THE DISPOSITION OF  A  BODY  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH
     6  SECTION,  IF THE BODY OF A DECEASED PERSON IS NOT CLAIMED AS PROVIDED IN
     7  SECTION FORTY-TWO HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE AND SUCH PERSON  IS  KNOWN
     8  TO HAVE BEEN OF  JEWISH DESCENT, THE DIRECTOR OR PERSON IN CHARGE OF ANY
     9  HOSPITAL,  INSTITUTION,  MORGUE  OR  OTHER  PLACE FOR BODIES OF DECEASED
    10  PERSONS NOT INTERRED OR OTHERWISE FINALLY DISPOSED OF, AND EVERY FUNERAL
    11  DIRECTOR, UNDERTAKER OR OTHER PERSON HAVING IN THEIR LAWFUL  POSSESSION,
    12  ANY BODY OF A DECEASED  PERSON  FOR  KEEPING  OR BURIAL, SHALL  CONTACT:
    13  (A)  MISASKIM, 5805 16TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11204, (718) 854-4548; AND/OR
    14  (B) CHESED SHEL EMES, 1224 52ND ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11219, (855)  273-2121,
    15  OR ANY SUCCESSOR ORGANIZATIONS, AND INQUIRE IF THE ORGANIZATION IS WILL-
    16  ING  TO  PAY  FOR THE BURIAL EXPENSE OF THE DECEASED PERSON, AND, IF THE
    17  ORGANIZATION IS WILLING TO DO SO,  DELIVER  THE  BODY  OF  THE  DECEASED
    18  PERSON IN THEIR POSSESSION, CHARGE, CUSTODY OR CONTROL NOT PLACED THERE-
    19  IN  BY  ANY  PERSON, AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION FOR KEEPING, BURIAL OR OTHER
    20  LAWFUL DISPOSITION TO THE AGREEING ORGANIZATION.
    21    2. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT SUPERSEDE ANY PRIOR  WRIT-
    22  TEN  DIRECTIVES OF THE DECEASED PERSON REGARDING ANATOMICAL GIFTS PURSU-
    23  ANT TO ARTICLE FORTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
    24    § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
    25  have become a law.


         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15576-01-6