(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, if a state resident who is a member of the armed forces has executed the United States Department of Defense Military Record of Emergency Data Form (DD Form 93), or its successor form, to serve as a record of emergency data and, on that form, has designated a person who is authorized to direct the disposition of the member's remains if the member dies while in a duty status as described in 10 U.S.C. 1481, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the person authorized to direct the disposition of remains on the executed form has the right to make the decisions concerning the disposition of the member's remains.
(b) If a state resident who is a member of the United States Coast Guard has executed the United States Coast Guard Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data Form (CG-2020D), or its successor form, to serve as a record of emergency data and, on that form, has designated a person who is authorized to direct the disposition of the member's remains if the member dies while in a duty status as described in 10 U.S.C. 1481, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the person authorized to direct the disposition of remains on the executed form has the right to make the decisions concerning the disposition of the member's remains.