SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5010

                    As of January 13, 1995

Title:  An act relating to disposal of remains of indigent persons.

Brief Description:  Revising the duty of the county to dispose of the remains of indigent persons.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin and Fraser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/17/95.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786-7754)

Background:  An historical responsibility of counties and townships throughout the United States was to provide for indigent persons while alive and to bury them when they died.  However, in Washington, the responsibility to bury indigent persons is expressed in statute, with qualifying language.  Counties may refuse to provide for the disposition of the remains of a deceased person when the body is claimed by relatives or a church organization and may, arguably, require that the deceased have been on public assistance.

Summary of Bill: The requirement that the body of a deceased indigent be unclaimed by a relative or church organization as a condition of burial at county expense is deleted.  The phrase "including a recipient of public assistance" which qualifies the term "indigent person" is deleted as redundant.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 12, 1995.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.