(a) Except with the express written permission of the person entitled to control the disposition of the remains, no person shall do any of the following:
(1) Hydrolyze the remains of more than one person at the same time in the same hydrolysis chamber, or introduce the remains of a second person into a hydrolysis chamber until dissolution of any preceding remains has been terminated and reasonable efforts have been employed to remove all fragments of the preceding remains. The fact that there is residue in the hydrolysis chamber or other equipment or any container used in a prior hydrolysis is not a violation of this section.
(2) Dispose of or scatter hydrolyzed human remains in a manner or in such a location that the remains are commingled with those of another person. This paragraph shall not apply to the scattering of hydrolyzed human remains at sea from individual containers or to the disposal in a dedicated cemetery of accumulated residue removed from processing equipment.
(3) Place hydrolyzed human remains or other remains of more than one person in the same container or the same interment space. This paragraph shall not apply to the following:
(A) Interment of members of the same family in a common container designed for the hydrolyzed human remains of more than one person.
(B) Interment in a space or container that has been previously designated at the time of sale as being intended for the interment of remains of more than one person.
(C) Disposal in a dedicated cemetery of residue removed from processing equipment.
(b) Written acknowledgment from the person entitled to control the disposition of the hydrolyzed human remains shall be obtained by the person with whom arrangements are made for disposition of the remains on a form that includes, but is not limited to, the following information: “The human body is hydrolyzed with organic protein-based material such as wool, silk, cotton, or other protein-based material in the hydrolysis chamber. Bone fragments are not hydrolyzable and, as a result, remain in the chamber. The hydrolyzed remains will be dried and crushed, pulverized, or ground to facilitate inurnment or scattering.” The acknowledgment shall be filed and retained, for at least five years, by the person who disposes of or inters the remains.
(c) A person, including any corporation or partnership, that violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 62. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)