Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Business & Financial Services Committee

HB 1700

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.
Adds licensing and inspection regulations for hydrolysis facilities.

Background:

The Department of Licensing (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 disposed of. In instances where the deceased human body is cremated there are regulations related to scattering the cremated human remains. Facilities, including crematories, that perform services related to the final disposition of human remains are licensed by the Department and may be inspected.

Summary of Bill:

Alkaline hydrolysis is defined as the reduction of human remains to bone fragments and essential elements 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.