Corona, NY –Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and State Senator Luis Sepulveda today introduced the Dignified Burial Act, a bill designed to ensure that sufficient financial assistance is available to families to cover the cost of burials and cremations of loved ones, regardless of immigration status. While existing New York State law provides financial assistance for funeral arrangements, burials, or cremations to qualifying individuals, it does not account for the drastic increase in funeral costs over the recent years.

For many families, coming up with thousands of dollars to provide for a proper funeral service and burial for a loved one, especially when many have lost their jobs, is financially impossible without public assistance. This bill proposes to increase the existing minimum benefit from $900 to $3,000. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an even greater challenge for undocumented families, who are unable to afford the burial expenses and do not qualify for any assistance. This bill expands qualifying individuals to include undocumented persons.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically exposed the inequalities that define our economic and healthcare systems. Minority and undocumented communities have disproportionately higher rates of infection and death from the virus, while many of them are also the essential workers keeping our societies functioning and saving lives during the shutdown. I am proud to co-sponsor legislation with Assembly Member Cruz – who understands firsthand the challenges faced by undocumented individuals – to provide support to families for funeral costs, which should not add to the immense financial and emotional burden on families right now, particularly the undocumented community that does not qualify for most relief benefits,” Senator Luis Sepulveda said.

“My district is at the heart of the current crisis, which has left our communities devastated. Hundreds of our neighbors have passed away and their families have been left with a financial burden they cannot endure. Our immigrant and undocumented families have given so much to our country, but they been left out of much of the financial assistance provided by the federal and state government during this crisis. I am proud to introduce legislation that looks to ensure the dignified treatment of our community and their deceased loved ones, regardless of their immigration status,” Assembly Member Catalina Cruz said.