BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2283
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Date of Hearing: April 28, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2283 (Miller) - As Amended: April 5, 2010
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 10 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill 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 be obtained by the
crematory from the person entitled to control the disposition
of cremated remains and that the acknowledgement be retained
in the crematory records.
3)Requires the Bureau to adopt regulations for the safe
operation of alkaline hydrolysis chambers, no later than July
1, 2011.
4)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.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Costs associated with this legislation would be minor and
absorbable within the existing Bureau resources.
2)Potential minor nonreimbursable costs to counties for
prosecution and incarceration related to violations of the
AB 2283
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bill's provisions, offset to some extent by fine revenues.
(The bill expands provisions of current law, the violation of
which is a misdemeanor.)
COMMENTS
1)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."
2)Cremation by Alkaline Hydrolysis . Alkaline Hydrolysis, also
referred to as resomation or water resolution, is an
alternative to cremation by incineration. This process
accelerates the natural decomposition of the body utilizing a
combination of water pressure, high temperature and alkalinity
over three or four hours, to turn human remains into ash.
Proponents note that unlike cremation by incineration,
alkaline hydrolysis does not pollute the air, nor does it emit
any green house gas, and its CO2 emissions are 20 times less.
Alkaline hydrolysis also neutralizes embalming fluids and
toxins to protect soil and underground water from pollutants.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081