An Act providing for disclosure of cremation services for deceased animals, for distribution and certification, for required notices, for holding facility standards, for recordkeeping requirements, and for enforcement; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO. 1071
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 950
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PISCIOTTANO, BROWN, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, ROBINSON,
L. WILLIAMS, VOGEL, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA AND FLYNN,
JULY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JULY 23, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for disclosure of cremation services for deceased
animals, for distribution and certification, for required
notices, for holding facility standards, for recordkeeping
requirements, and for enforcement; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Companion
Animal Cremation Consumer Protection Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Animal." A deceased animal that had a companion or pet
relationship with its owner at the time of the animal's death.
"Cremated remains." The material remaining after the
cremation of an animal, which may include bone fragments and
residue resulting from the cremation process, and which may be
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pulverized or otherwise processed by the cremation provider.
"Funeral director." A licensed funeral director as defined
in 49 Pa. Code § 13.1 (relating to definitions).
"Holding facility." An area designated for the retention of
animal remains prior to cremation that meets the standards under
section 6.
"Pet shop." A person or facility that offers animals for
sale on a retail basis to be kept as household companions or
pets.
"Provider." A person or entity that engages in the business
of cremating deceased animals in this Commonwealth.
"Veterinarian." An individual licensed to practice
veterinary medicine and surgery under the laws of this
Commonwealth or another state.
Section 3. Disclosure of cremation services.
(a) Description.--A provider shall furnish a written
description of available cremation services, without charge, to
each of the following:
(1) The owner of a deceased animal, or another person
acting on the owner's behalf, who arranges for cremation
services.
(2) A veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other
person who refers animal owners or delivers deceased animals
to the provider more than five times in a calendar year.
(3) The Department of Agriculture.
(4) Any other person upon request.
(b) Form and content.--The written description of services
shall:
(1) be provided in printed form, such as a brochure;
(2) be available in quantities sufficient to allow for
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distribution to animal owners referred or served by the
provider; and
(3) contain a detailed and clear explanation of each
cremation service offered.
(c) Prohibited content.--The written description of services
may not contain information that is unclear or misleading. A
description is misleading if the description:
(1) fails to include a complete and accurate explanation
of each cremation service or omits a required disclosure
under this act; or
(2) includes text, illustrations, layout or formatting
that causes confusion about the nature of the services or
obstructs important disclosures.
Section 4. Distribution and certification.
(a) Distribution by intermediaries.--A veterinarian, pet
shop, funeral director or other person who refers animal owners
or accepts deceased animals for cremation more than five times
in a calendar year shall provide a copy of the provider's
written description of services to the animal owner, or to a
person acting on the owner's behalf, at the time of referral or
acceptance.
(b) Timing of distribution.--A copy of the provider's
written description of services shall be given to the animal
owner, or to a person acting on the owner's behalf, at the time
cremation services are authorized.
(c) Certification by provider.--If cremation services
include the return of cremated remains, the provider shall
include with the returned cremated remains a certification
stating that, to the best of the provider's knowledge and
belief, and except as otherwise indicated on the certificate,
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the cremation and related services were performed in accordance
with the provider's written description of services.
(d) Certification by intermediary.--If a veterinarian, pet
shop, funeral director or other person is responsible for
returning cremated remains to the animal owner, the
veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other person shall
provide all of the following:
(1) The provider's certification under subsection (c).
(2) A second certification stating that, to the best of
the intermediary's knowledge and belief, and except as
otherwise indicated on the certificate, the returned remains
are those of the animal owner's deceased animal and were
returned in accordance with the provider's representations.
(e) Reliance on documentation.--A veterinarian, pet shop,
funeral director or other person subject to subsection (d) may
rely in good faith on the documentation and representations
provided by the provider and is not required to observe the
cremation process.
Section 5. Required notices.
(a) Written notice of rights.--At the time the written
description of services is provided under section 3 or 4, the
provider or intermediary shall furnish to the animal owner, or
to a person acting on the owner's behalf, a written notice
specifying the rights provided under this act. The notice shall
include the following statement, presented in a clear and
conspicuous manner:
THIS DISCLOSURE OF RIGHTS IS A SUMMARY OF PENNSYLVANIA
LAW. THE ACTUAL PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ARE SET FORTH IN
THE COMPANION ANIMAL CREMATION CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT.
(b) Posted summary.--A summary of the provisions of this act
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shall be conspicuously posted at each place of business of a
provider, veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other
person subject to this act. The summary shall also state that
the provider's written description of services is available upon
request.
(c) Mandatory disclosures.--The written description of
services provided under section 3 or 4 shall include all of the
following:
(1) A clear explanation of each cremation option
offered, including the following:
(i) Private cremation explained as the cremation of
a single animal in a clean, empty chamber, with the
cremated remains returned exclusively to the owner.
(ii) Individual-partitioned cremation explained as
the cremation of multiple animals in the same chamber
using physical barriers or designated spaces to maintain
separation, with cremated remains returned to each owner.
(iii) Communal cremation explained as the cremation
of multiple animals simultaneously in a single chamber
without separation. No cremated remains are returned to
the owner.
(2) The date the cremation was completed.
(3) A statement that the cremation was conducted in
accordance with prevailing industry standards or best
practices and in compliance with applicable Federal and State
public health laws.
Section 6. Holding facility standards.
(a) Duty of providers.--A provider shall ensure that a
holding facility used to retain the remains of animals prior to
cremation complies with the standards specified under subsection
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(b).
(b) Standards.--A holding facility shall meet all of the
following standards:
(1) Protect the health of personnel responsible for
handling animal remains and comply with applicable Federal
and State public health laws.
(2) Preserve the dignity of the animal remains.
Section 7. Recordkeeping requirements.
(a) Records required.--A provider shall maintain complete
and accurate records for each cremation performed. The records
shall be retained for a period of not less than five years and
shall include all of the following:
(1) A cremation authorization form signed by the animal
owner or by a person authorized to act on the owner's behalf.
(2) Identification records, including tags, labels or
tracking documentation used to identify the cremated remains.
(3) A cremation service log documenting the date of
cremation, the method of cremation and the name of the
operator or entity that performed the cremation.
(b) Confidentiality.--A provider shall implement and
maintain reasonable procedures to ensure the confidentiality and
security of client records, including personally identifying
information related to the animal owner or the deceased animal.
Section 8. Enforcement and penalties.
(a) Authority of Attorney General.--A violation of this act
shall constitute a violation of the act of December 17, 1968
(P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and
Consumer Protection Law. The Office of Attorney General shall
have all powers and duties under that act necessary to enforce
this act.
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(b) Prohibited conduct.--A person may not engage in any of
the following:
(1) Prepare or distribute a written description of
services that the person knows or reasonably should know is
false, misleading or otherwise not in compliance with this
act.
(2) Intentionally fail to provide a written description
of services, notice of rights or certification as required
under this act.
(3) Knowingly make a false certification under section
4.
(4) Violate the holding facility standards under section
6.
(5) Fail to maintain or secure records as required under
section 7.
(c) Licensure consequences.--If a person required to be
licensed or certified by a Commonwealth agency commits a
violation of this act, the appropriate licensing board or
licensing commission or regulatory authority may suspend, revoke
or impose conditions on the person's license or certification,
in accordance with applicable State law.
(d) Written warning.--The Office of Attorney General may
issue a written warning letter to any person engaged in a
violation of this act.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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