STAND. COM. REP. NO. 788-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1602

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1602 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the use of alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as means of disposing unclaimed dead human bodies and bodies retained for medical education and research purposes; and

(2) Clarify the procedures associated with the disposition of a decedent's remains to include facilities that provide alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Borthwick Mortuary, Borthwick Kauai Mortuary, Ballard Family Moanalua Mortuary, Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo, Normans Mortuary, and Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Services.

Your Committee finds that there are alternative methods for arranging for the final disposition of dead human bodies than burial or cremation. These new alternatives are promoted as environmentally friendly methods intended to decompose dead human bodies without the use of chemicals or pollutive effects related to traditional burials or cremation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting alkaline hydrolysis as a means of disposing unclaimed dead human bodies and bodies retained for medical education and research purposes;

(2) Deleting the inclusion of hydrolysis facilities from the provisions clarifying procedures associated with the disposition of a decedent's remains;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1602, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1602, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair