BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2283
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 2283 (Miller) - As Amended: April 5, 2010
SUBJECT : Disposition of human remains: alkaline hydrolysis.
SUMMARY : Requires the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau (Bureau) to
adopt regulations for the safe operation of alkaline hydrolysis
chambers, by July 1, 2011. Specifically, this bill :
1)Adds alkaline hydrolysis to the definition of cremation and
makes related changes to the Health and Safety code related to
cremation.
2)Requires, if remains are being cremated through alkaline
hydrolysis, written acknowledgement from the person entitled
to control the disposition of cremated remains be obtained by
the crematory on a cremation authorization form that includes,
but is not limited to the following information: "During the
chemical dissolution process, heat, high pressure water, and
potassium hydroxide are used to hydrolyze the human tissue and
the consumable container. After the process is complete, the
sterile liquid solution is cooled and released in accordance
with local environmental regulations. A hot water rinse is
then applied to the cremated remains, which are then dried,
crushed, pulverized, or ground to facilitate interment or
scattering."
3)Specifies that the above acknowledgement be contained within
the cremation authorization and retained as crematory records,
as specified.
4)Requires the Bureau to adopt regulations for the safe
operation of alkaline hydrolysis chambers, no later than July
1, 2011.
5)Defines "alkaline hydrolysis" to mean a chemical dissolution
process using heat, high pressure water, and potassium
hydroxide to hydrolyze human tissue and the consumable
container.
EXISTING LAW licenses and regulates crematoria and various
AB 2283
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professions relating to the disposition of human remains by the
Bureau.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author's office, "AB
2283 paves the way for new business opportunity and job creation
in California by requiring the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to
adopt regulations for the operation of new, safe and
environmentally responsible, end of life alternatives in the
state."
Background . Alkaline Hydrolysis, also referred to as resomation
or water resolution, is a bio-cremation alternative to cremation
by incineration.
It is advanced technology that, through an automated process,
accelerates the natural decomposition process of the body
utilizing a combination of water pressure, high temperature and
alkalinity over three or four hours, to sympathetically return
human remains in the form of contaminant-free ash.
Unlike cremation by incineration, alkaline hydrolysis does not
pollute the air, nor does it emit any green house gas, and its
CO2 emissions are twenty times less. Alkaline hydrolysis also
neutralizes embalming fluids and toxins to protect soil and
underground water from pollutants.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Funeral Directors Association
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301