HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2279

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Nealey, Ferguson and Jones)

Providing county reimbursement for selected transportation of human remains.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Kirby, Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

A county is not allowed to charge for the removal of any body to the county morgue or for the care of a body at the county morgue.  After investigation, and at the request of relatives or friends, a body shall be delivered to friends at any point in the city without charge.

SUMMARY:

The county shall pay the reasonable costs of transporting human remains whenever a coroner or medical examiner assumes jurisdiction over human remains and directs the remains to be transported by a funeral establishment and: (1) the funeral establishment transporting the remains is not providing the funeral or disposition services; or (2) the funeral establishment providing the funeral or disposition services is required to transport the remains to a facility other than its own.

Any transportation costs or other costs incurred after the coroner or medical examiner releases jurisdiction over human remains shall not be borne by the county, except for the responsibility of the county to pay for the burial of indigent persons, and indigent veterans and their family members, or if such costs are incurred by the county while operating a county cemetery.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    George Fuller, Washington State Coroners Association; Judy Arnold, Thurston County Coroner; Dr. Barbara Anderson, Island County Coroner; and Bill Haglund, King County Medical Examiner.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Original Bill)  Clair Ferris, Mills and Mills Funeral Home; and Dick Goldsmith, Washington State Funeral Directors Association.

House Committee - Testimony For:    We need this bill to clarify when counties have to pay the cost of transporting human remains.  This is an archaic statute.  We work with funeral homes.  Normal transporting should be paid by the families.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      We have concerns about giving free service.  We can support if a few changes are made.