STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6584
IN SENATE
February 10, 2014
___________
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to disposition of
human remains
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 4201 of the public health law, as amended by chap-
2 ter 76 of the laws of 2006, paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 as amended by
3 chapter 401 of the laws of 2007, paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 as added
4 by section 1 of part B of chapter 491 of the laws of 2012, subdivision
5 4-a as added by chapter 348 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as
6 follows:
7 § 4201. Disposition of remains; responsibility therefor. 1. As used in
8 this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings,
9 unless the context otherwise requires:
10 (a) "Cremation" means the incineration of human remains.
11 (b) "Disposition" means the care, disposal, transportation, burial,
12 cremation or embalming of the body of a deceased person, and associated
13 measures.
14 (c) "Domestic partner" means a person who, with respect to another
15 person:
16 (i) is formally a party in a domestic partnership or similar relation-
17 ship with the other person, entered into pursuant to the laws of the
18 United States or any state, local or foreign jurisdiction, or registered
19 as the domestic partner of the person with any registry maintained by
20 the employer of either party or any state, municipality, or foreign
21 jurisdiction; or
22 (ii) is formally recognized as a beneficiary or covered person under
23 the other person's employment benefits or health insurance; or
24 (iii) is dependent or mutually interdependent on the other person for
25 support, as evidenced by the totality of the circumstances indicating a
26 mutual intent to be domestic partners including but not limited to:
27 common ownership or joint leasing of real or personal property; common
28 householding, shared income or shared expenses; children in common;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01439-01-3
S. 6584 2
1 signs of intent to marry or become domestic partners under subparagraph
2 (i) or (ii) of this paragraph; or the length of the personal relation-
3 ship of the persons.
4 Each party to a domestic partnership shall be considered to be the
5 domestic partner of the other party. "Domestic partner" shall not
6 include a person who is related to the other person by blood in a manner
7 that would bar marriage to the other person in New York state. "Domestic
8 partner" shall also not include any person who is less than eighteen
9 years of age or who is the adopted child of the other person or who is
10 related by blood in a manner that would bar marriage in New York state
11 to a person who is the lawful spouse of the other person.
12 (d) "Person" means a natural person eighteen years of age or older.
13 2. (a) The following persons in descending priority shall have the
14 right to control the disposition of the remains of such decedent:
15 (i) the person designated in a written instrument executed pursuant to
16 [the provisions of] this section;
17 (ii) the decedent's surviving spouse;
18 (ii-a) the decedent's surviving domestic partner;
19 (iii) any of the decedent's surviving children eighteen years of age
20 or older;
21 (iv) either of the decedent's surviving parents;
22 (v) any of the decedent's surviving siblings eighteen years of age or
23 older;
24 (vi) a guardian appointed pursuant to article seventeen or seventeen-A
25 of the surrogate's court procedure act or article eighty-one of the
26 mental hygiene law;
27 (vii) any person eighteen years of age or older who would be entitled
28 to share in the estate of the decedent as specified in section 4-1.1 of
29 the estates, powers and trusts law, with the person closest in relation-
30 ship having the highest priority;
31 (viii) a duly appointed fiduciary of the estate of the decedent;
32 (ix) a close friend or relative who is reasonably familiar with the
33 decedent's wishes, including the decedent's religious or moral beliefs,
34 when no one higher on this list is reasonably available, willing, or
35 competent to act, provided that such person has executed a written
36 statement pursuant to subdivision seven of this section; or
37 (x) a chief fiscal officer of a county or a public administrator
38 appointed pursuant to article twelve or thirteen of the surrogate's
39 court procedure act, or any other person acting on behalf of the dece-
40 dent, provided that such person has executed a written statement pursu-
41 ant to subdivision seven of this section.
42 (b) If a person designated to control the disposition of a decedent's
43 remains, pursuant to this subdivision, is not reasonably available,
44 unwilling or not competent to serve, and such person is not expected to
45 become reasonably available, willing or competent, then those persons of
46 equal priority and, if there be none, those persons of the next succeed-
47 ing priority shall have the right to control the disposition of the
48 decedent's remains.
49 (c) The person in control of disposition, pursuant to this section,
50 shall faithfully carry out the directions of the decedent to the extent
51 lawful and practicable, including consideration of the financial capaci-
52 ty of the decedent's estate and other resources made available for
53 disposition of the remains. The person in control of disposition shall
54 also dispose of the decedent in a manner appropriate to the moral and
55 individual beliefs and wishes of the decedent provided that such beliefs
56 and wishes do not conflict with the directions of the decedent. The
S. 6584 3
1 person in control of disposition may seek to recover any costs related
2 to the disposition from the fiduciary of the decedent's estate in
3 accordance with section eighteen hundred eleven of the surrogate's court
4 procedure act.
5 (d) No funeral director, undertaker, embalmer or no person with an
6 interest in, or who is an employee of any funeral firm, cemetery organ-
7 ization or business operating a crematory, columbarium or any other
8 business, who also controls the disposition of remains in accordance
9 with this section, shall receive compensation or otherwise receive
10 financial benefit for disposing of the remains of a decedent.
11 (e) No person who: (1) at the time of the decedent's death, was the
12 subject of an order of protection protecting the decedent; or (2) has
13 been arrested or charged with any crime set forth in article one hundred
14 twenty-five of the penal law as a result of any action allegedly causal-
15 ly related to the death of the decedent shall have the right to control
16 the disposition of the remains of the decedent. However, the application
17 of this paragraph in a particular case may be waived or modified in the
18 interest of justice by order of (i) the court that issued the order of
19 protection or in which the criminal action against the person is pend-
20 ing, or a superior court in which an action or proceeding under the
21 domestic relations law or the family court act between the person and
22 the decedent was pending at the time of the decedent's death, or (ii) if
23 proceeding in that court would cause inappropriate delay, a court in a
24 special proceeding.
25 3. The written instrument referred to in paragraph (a) of subdivision
26 two of this section may be, but is not required to be, in substantially
27 the following form[, and]. It must be signed and dated by the decedent
28 [and the agent] and [properly] witnessed by one witness who must be
29 eighteen years of age or older. A signed acceptance by the appointed
30 agent is not required for the written instrument to be valid:
31 APPOINTMENT OF AGENT TO CONTROL DISPOSITION OF REMAINS
32 I, _____________________________________________________________________
33 (Your name and address)
34 being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desire
35 that, upon my death, the disposition of my remains shall be controlled
36 by ___________________________________________________________________ .
37 (name of agent)
38 With respect to that subject only, I hereby appoint such person as my
39 agent with respect to the disposition of my remains.
40 SPECIAL DIRECTIONS:
41 Set forth below are any special directions limiting the power granted to
42 my agent as well as any instructions or wishes desired to be followed in
43 the disposition of my remains:
44 ________________________________________________________________________
45 ________________________________________________________________________
46 ________________________________________________________________________
47 ________________________________________________________________________
48 ________________________________________________________________________
49 Indicate below if you have entered into a [pre-funded] pre-need
50 [agreement subject to section four hundred fifty-three of the general
51 business law] arrangement for funeral, cemetery or other merchandise or
52 service in advance of need:
S. 6584 4
1 [] No, I have not entered into a [pre-funded] pre-need [agreement
2 subject to section four hundred fifty-three of the general business law]
3 arrangement.
4 [] Yes, I have entered into a [pre-funded] pre-need [agreement subject
5 to section four hundred fifty-three of the general business law]
6 arrangement.
7 ________________________________________________________________________
8 (Name of [funeral firm] establishment with which you entered into a
9 [pre-funded] pre-need funeral [agreement] arrangement to provide
10 merchandise and/or services)
11 AGENT:
12 Name: __________________________________________________________________
13 Address: _______________________________________________________________
14 Telephone Number: ______________________________________________________
15 SUCCESSORS:
16 If my agent dies, resigns, or is unable to act, I hereby appoint the
17 following persons (each to act alone and successively, in the order
18 named) to serve as my agent to control the disposition of my remains as
19 authorized by this document:
20 1. First Successor
21 Name: __________________________________________________________________
22 Address: _______________________________________________________________
23 Telephone Number: ______________________________________________________
24 2. Second Successor
25 Name: __________________________________________________________________
26 Address: _______________________________________________________________
27 Telephone Number: ______________________________________________________
28 DURATION:
29 This appointment becomes effective upon my death.
30 PRIOR APPOINTMENT REVOKED:
31 I hereby revoke any prior appointment of any person to control the
32 disposition of my remains.
33 Signed this____________________day of__________,____________.
34 ________________________________________________________________________
35 (Signature of person making the appointment)
36 Statement by witness (must be 18 or older)
37 I declare that the person who executed this document is personally known
38 to me and appears to be of sound mind and acting of his or her free
39 will. He or she signed (or asked another to sign for him or her) this
40 document in my presence.
41 Witness [1]: __________________ (signature)
42 Address: _________________
S. 6584 5
1 [Witness 2: _________________ (signature)
2 Address: _________________]
3 ACCEPTANCE AND ASSUMPTION BY AGENT:
4 1. I have no reason to believe there has been a revocation of this
5 appointment to control disposition of remains.
6 2. I hereby accept this appointment.
7 Signed this day of , .
8 _______________________
9 (Signature of agent)
10 4. [(a)] In the absence of a written instrument made pursuant to
11 subdivision three of this section, the designation of a person for the
12 disposition of one's remains or directions for the disposition of one's
13 remains in a will executed pursuant to the laws of the state of New York
14 [prior to the effective date of this section], or otherwise executed
15 pursuant to the laws of a jurisdiction outside the state of New York,
16 shall be: [(i) considered reflective of the intent of the decedent] (a)
17 deemed to be a written instrument executed pursuant to this section with
18 respect to the disposition of the decedent's remains; and [(ii)] (b)
19 superseded by a written instrument subsequently executed pursuant to
20 subdivision three of this section, or by any other subsequent act by the
21 decedent evidencing a specific intent to supersede the designation or
22 direction in such a will with respect to the disposition of the
23 decedent's remains. All actions taken reasonably and in good faith based
24 upon such authorizations and directions regarding the disposition of
25 one's remains in such a will shall be deemed valid regardless of whether
26 such a will is later probated or subsequently declared invalid.
27 [(b) In the absence of a written instrument made pursuant to subdivi-
28 sion three of this section, the designation of a person for the disposi-
29 tion of one's remains or directions for the disposition of one's remains
30 in a will executed pursuant to the laws of the state of New York on or
31 after the effective date of this section, shall be considered a
32 reflection of the intent of the decedent with respect to the disposition
33 of the decedent's remains, provided that the person who represents that
34 he or she is entitled to control the disposition of remains of the dece-
35 dent has complied with subdivision five and paragraph (a) of subdivision
36 seven of this section and signed a written statement in accordance with
37 paragraph (b) of subdivision seven of this section.]
38 4-a. A written instrument under this section may limit the disposition
39 of remains agent's authority to consent to organ or tissue donation or
40 designate another person to do so, under article forty-three of this
41 chapter. Failure to state wishes or instruction shall not be construed
42 to imply a wish not to donate.
43 5. A written instrument executed under this section shall be revoked
44 upon the execution by the decedent of a subsequent written instrument,
45 or by any other subsequent act by the decedent evidencing a specific
46 intent to revoke the prior written instrument [and directions].
47 Directions on disposition and agent designations in a [will] written
48 instrument made pursuant to [subdivision three of] this section shall be
49 superseded by a subsequently executed [will or] written instrument made
50 pursuant to this section, or by any other subsequent act of the decedent
51 evidencing a specific intent to supersede the direction or designation.
52 The designation of the decedent's spouse or domestic partner as an agent
53 in control of disposition of remains shall be revoked upon the divorce
S. 6584 6
1 or legal separation of the decedent and spouse, or termination of the
2 domestic partnership, unless the decedent specified in writing other-
3 wise.
4 6. A person acting reasonably and in good faith, shall not be subject
5 to any civil liability for:
6 (a) representing himself or herself to be the person in control of a
7 decedent's disposition;
8 (b) disposing of a decedent's remains if done with the reasonable
9 belief that such disposal is consistent with this section; or
10 (c) identifying a decedent.
11 7. No cemetery organization, business operating a crematory or colum-
12 barium, funeral director, undertaker, embalmer, or funeral firm shall be
13 held liable for actions taken reasonably and in good faith to carry out
14 the written directions of a decedent as stated in [a will or in] a writ-
15 ten instrument executed pursuant to this section. No cemetery organiza-
16 tion, business operating a crematory or columbarium, funeral director,
17 undertaker, embalmer or funeral firm shall be held liable for actions
18 taken reasonably and in good faith to carry out the directions of a
19 person who represents that he or she is entitled to control of the
20 disposition of remains, provided that such action is taken only after
21 requesting and receiving a written statement that such person:
22 (a) is the designated agent of the decedent designated in a [will or]
23 written instrument executed pursuant to this section; or
24 (b) that he or she has no knowledge that the decedent executed a writ-
25 ten instrument pursuant to this section [or a will] containing
26 directions for the disposition of his or her remains and that such
27 person is the person having priority under subdivision two of this
28 section.
29 8. Every dispute under this section relating to the disposition of the
30 remains of a decedent shall be resolved by a court of competent juris-
31 diction pursuant to a special proceeding under article four of the civil
32 practice law and rules. No person providing services relating to the
33 disposition of the remains of a decedent shall be held liable for
34 refusal to provide such services, when control of the disposition of
35 such remains is contested, until such person receives a court order or
36 other form of notification signed by all parties or their legal repre-
37 sentatives to the dispute establishing such control.
38 9. This section does not supersede, alter or abridge any provision of
39 section four hundred fifty-three of the general business law. In the
40 event of a conflict or ambiguity, [the provisions of] section four
41 hundred fifty-three of the general business law shall govern.
42 10. This section does not supersede, alter or abridge any provision of
43 article forty-three of this chapter including, but not limited to, the
44 persons authorized to execute an anatomical gift pursuant to section
45 forty-three hundred one of this chapter.
46 11. This section does not diminish the enforceability of a contract or
47 agreement in which a person controlling the disposition of the remains
48 of a decedent agrees to pay for goods or services in connection with the
49 disposition of such remains.
50 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
