THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2896
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DEAD BODIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to amend chapter 327, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the medical and research use of bodies, and chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to offenses against the public order, to clarify prohibited actions related to anatomical gifts.

SECTION 2. Section 327-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) An anatomical gift of a body or body part may be made to the following persons:

(1) A named hospital, accredited medical school, dental school, college, university, or [organ] procurement organization[, or other appropriate person] for research or education;

(2) A named individual designated by the person making the anatomical gift if the individual is the recipient of the body part; or, if the body part for any reason cannot be transplanted into the individual, the body part shall pass in accordance with subsection (f) in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the person making the anatomical gift; or

(3) A named eye bank or tissue bank."

SECTION 3. Section 327-36, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§327-36 Final disposition of [bodies retained for medical education and research purposes.] anatomical gifts. (a) A [university, hospital, or institution] person or procurement organization that holds a dead human body as a result of an anatomical gift shall, when the body is deemed of no further value for [medical] purposes of transplantation, therapy, research, or education, [and research purposes,] be responsible for the final disposition of that dead human body and all of its parts, except those parts used for transplantation. The person or procurement organization shall dispose of the remains by cremation, except as otherwise provided in section 327-14[.] or as directed in a document of gift, subject to any required disposition permits."

SECTION 4. Section 711-1108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§711-1108 Abuse of a corpse. (1) A person commits the offense of abuse of a corpse if, except as authorized by law, the person treats a human corpse in a way that the person knows would outrage ordinary family sensibilities.

(2) The preparation of a corpse for burial or cremation in a manner consistent with traditional Hawaiian cultural customs and practices shall not be a violation of this section.

(3) The burial or cremation of a corpse prepared consistent with traditional Hawaiian cultural customs and practices shall not be a violation of this section.

(4) A person commits the offense of abuse of a corpse if, except as authorized by law, the person accepts the donation of a dead human body or any of its parts.

(5) A person commits the offense of abuse of a corpse if, except as authorized by law, the person disposes of a dead human body without a disposition permit. Disposal of a dead human body includes removal of body parts or organs, but it shall not be an offense for a procurement organization to remove body parts or organs for transplantation or therapy prior to obtaining a disposition permit.

[(4)] (6) Abuse of a corpse is a misdemeanor."

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Dead Bodies

Description:

Amends chapter 327, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the medical and research use of bodies, and chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to offenses against the public order, to clarify prohibited actions related to anatomical gifts.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.