HB4934: HUMAN REMAINS-VETERANS

Legislative Summary

Amends the Cemetery Protection Act. Defines "veteran" and "veterans' organization". Provides that if a veterans' organization has identified human remains of a veteran that are more than 100 years old and wishes to have a marker placed to designate the grave as that of a veteran, a cemetery authority may allow such memorialization without permission of the decedent's heirs. Provides that all costs for memorialization including the marker, its installation, and any removal of or repair to a previous marker that is damaged shall be entirely borne by the veterans' organization. Prohibits human remains from being disturbed in this process. Requires permission from the cemetery authority and compliance with the rules and regulations and any collective bargaining agreement of the involved cemetery. Requires the veterans' organization to first make a good faith effort to contact the decedent's next of kin, and if there is no response within 120 days, the process may proceed. Provides that if any heir of a decedent later objects to memorialization, the sole remedy is the removal of the involved marker at the expense of the involved veterans' organization unless the veterans' organization no longer exists or is without funds, in which case removal shall be at the expense of the heir. Prohibits any monetary damages or any other equitable relief or penalties against the cemetery authority, cemetery, or veterans' association.