BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2283
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2283 (Miller)
As Amended April 5, 2010
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 10-0
APPROPRIATIONS 15-0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Hayashi, Emmerson, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Conway, Eng, Hernandez, | |Coto, Davis, Bonnie |
| |Hill, Ma, Nava, Niello, | |Lowenthal, Hall, Nielsen, |
| |Ruskin | |Norby, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Hill |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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
AB 2283
Page 2
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
professions relating to the disposition of human remains by the
Bureau.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
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
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 : 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."
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 20 times less. Alkaline hydrolysis also
neutralizes embalming fluids and toxins to protect soil and
AB 2283
Page 3
underground water from pollutants.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004072