An issue addressing an unfortunate situation that hit home for local Yankton Representative Mike Stevens has passed the House Judiciary Committee.
State laws seem to be somewhat lacking on who has the right and responsibility for a dead body. Representative Charlie Hoffman of Eureka made the pitch Wednesday for House bill 1152. The bill would establish rights regarding the disposition of a person’s remains.
Stevens needed no convincing to approve the bill. His law office unexpectedly received the remains of a former customer of his who passed…
Stevens adds that this issue arises more often than people think…
There are state laws on burial permits, as well as custody and disposition of bodies, crematories and cremations, and cemeteries and burial records. The proposed legislation would address a variety of situations they don’t specifically cover.
The legislation will be up for House consideration next week.
