SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5387

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Adds alkaline hydrolysis as an approved final disposition of a deceased person's body.
Updates various statutes to include alkaline hydrolysis, hydrolyzed human remains, and hydrolysis facilities in the regulation of handling, storing, and scattering human remains.
Provides for licensing and inspection regulations for hydrolysis facilities.

Background: The Funeral and Cemetery Board (Board) enforces and administers the laws generally related to cemeteries, morgues, and human remains. The Director of the Department of Licensing (Department), in consultation with the Board, administers the laws. Facilities, including crematories, that perform services related to the final disposition of human remains are licensed, by a permit or endorsement, by the Department and may be inspected. Conducting a cremation without a permit or endorsement is a misdemeanor.

The Department regulates certain professions and businesses, including funeral directors, embalmers, funeral establishments, cemeteries, and crematories. There are laws related to how human remains may be handled, stored, and for their disposition. In instances where the deceased human body is cremated, there are regulations related to scattering the cremated human remains.

Summary of Bill: Alkaline hydrolysis is defined as the reduction of human remains to bone fragments and essential elements in a licensed hydrolysis facility using heat, pressure, water, and alkaline substances. Alkaline hydrolysis is included as an allowed final disposition of a deceased person's body.

Alkaline hydrolysis facilities must be licensed and may be inspected by the Department.

Various statutes governing the final disposition of human remains, handling and scattering of the reduced remains, and operation of a facility that offers these services are amended to include alkaline hydrolysis, hydrolyzed human remains, and hydrolysis facilities. Generally, the amendments include alkaline hydrolysis and the related terms in a similar manner to cremation terms.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Commerce, Labor & Sports): Testimony from 2017 Regular Session. PRO: This is a simple bill that adds alkaline hydrolysis as a means to dispose of human remains. It is an environmentally friendly means by using dramatically less energy to reduce remains than cremation. It uses one-fourth of the carbon footprint and one-eight of the fossil fuels. Twelve states allow this method. It may cost approximately $500 more than cremation. The remains are sterile.

CON: There are questions about the process and the disposition of the remains. What happens to the water used in this process? Is it poured down the sewer? This is not a respectful way to treat the human body. There is a significant difference between what goes into the air verses going into a sewer.

Persons Testifying (Commerce, Labor & Sports): PRO: Senator Jamie Pedersen, Prime Sponsor; Kathy Long, People's Memorial Association, Executive Director. CON: Tom Parker, Washington State Catholic Conference.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Commerce, Labor & Sports): PRO: TK Bentler, WA Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Assn.; TK Bentler, WA St Funeral Directors Assn.