For Immediate Release
November 5, 2007
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Tomlinson Bill Would Protect Consumers by Regulating Crematory Business

Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) has introduced legislation that would protect consumers from unscrupulous funeral home and crematory business operators by providing for stricter licensing and regulation of crematories in the Commonwealth.          

Tomlinson, who chairs the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, introduced Senate Bill 1155 following a 16-month Grand Jury investigation into a case in Philadelphia involving the selling of body parts from cadavers.  In that case, three funeral-home operators stole diseased body parts from more than 244 corpses and sold the tissues to two predatory operators for resale.

"The Grand Jury made several recommendations to prevent crimes like this, including increased regulation of crematories," Tomlinson said.  "The vast majority of states currently regulate the crematory business, to ensure that operator are adhering to high standards and that consumers are protected.  In such a growing industry, it is important to provide increased  state oversight and standards."

Tomlinson's legislation would require all new and existing facilities to individually register with the Department of State.  Under the bill, a crematory authority would not be allowed to cremate human remains until it has received certain specific information from the funeral director. 

In addition, the bill sets guidelines for cremation procedures and requires that the identification of the human remains must be verified by the crematory authority. 

Crematories that violate the act can be forced to close and operators could face fines.  In addition, any operator who unlawfully takes or exercises unlawful control over a human body part would be charged with a felony of the second degree.

"The cases in Philadelphia involve criminal charges, and demonstrate the need to have tighter standards – particularly given the fact that organ, bone and tissue transplants are on the rise," Tomlinson said.  "But we also need to set tougher standards to prevent shoddy business practices, and make sure that consumers are getting the service that they are paying for."

CONTACT: 

CAROL MARAVIC
(717) 787-6725