An act relating to cremation of dead bodies., the official text

UNOFFICIAL COPY                                                  26 RS SB 27/EN

1   AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

2 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

3   Section 1. KRS 72.450 is amended to read as follows:

4 (1) (a) A coroner who has possession of a dead body or a part thereof shall make a

5   bona fide attempt of at least thirty (30) days to notify the spouse, if any, or

6   next of kin of the decedent's death. In the event the coroner is unable to locate

7   the spouse, if any, or next of kin, or if the spouse or next of kin does not take

8   possession of the deceased, he or she may cause the body to be:

9   1. [ ]Buried or;

10  2. Cremated and interred;

11  [ ]at the expense of the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-

12  county government, whichever is appropriate.

13  (b) The decision between burial or cremation and interment shall be made by

14  the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county

15  government that has responsibility for the expense pursuant to this

16  subsection.

17  (c) If a fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county

18  government has responsibility for the expense pursuant to this subsection, it

19  shall consult with:

20  1. The local county coroner before it makes the decision between burial

21  or cremation and interment; and

22  2. If the decedent is known to be a member of a religious community,

23  any such religious community that has expressed, in writing, a

24  willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise

25  provide, the burial expense of the community's members.

26 (2) In the event the body is buried or cremated and interred at public expense, the

27  coroner shall take possession of all money or other property found on or belonging

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    SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM                           Engrossed
    UNOFFICIAL COPY                                               26 RS SB 27/EN

1   to the decedent and shall deliver same to the fiscal court, consolidated local

2   government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate. Any money or

3   other property found on the body of the decedent or belonging to him or her shall be

4   delivered by the coroner to the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or

5   urban-county government, whichever is appropriate, to help defray burial or

6   cremation and interment expenses. Any excess funds shall escheat to such

7   governmental agency one (1) year thereafter.

8 (3) In lieu of having an unclaimed body buried or cremated and interred at public

9   expense, the coroner may deliver such body or part thereof to a state medical school

10  in accordance with the provisions of KRS 311.300 to 311.350.

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    SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM                   Engrossed