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2014 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 54.1-2818.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-2807.02 as follows:
§ 54.1-2807.02. Absence of next of kin.
In the absence of a next of kin, a person designated to make arrangements for the decedent's burial or the disposition of his remains pursuant to § 54.1-2825, an agent named in an advance directive pursuant to § 54.1-2984, or any guardian appointed pursuant to Chapter 20 (§ 64.2-2000 et seq.) of Title 64.2 who may exercise the powers conferred in the order of appointment or by § 64.2-2019, or upon the failure or refusal of such next of kin, designated person, agent, or guardian to accept responsibility for the disposition of the decedent, then any other person 18 years of age or older who is able to provide positive identification of the deceased and is willing to pay for the costs associated with the disposition of the decedent's remains shall be authorized to make arrangements for such disposition of the decedent's remains. If a funeral service establishment or funeral service licensee makes arrangements with a person other than a next of kin, designated person, agent, or guardian in accordance with this section, then the funeral service licensee or funeral service establishment shall be immune from civil liability unless such act, decision, or omission resulted from bad faith or malicious intent.
§ 54.1-2818.1. Prerequisites for cremation.
No dead human body shall be cremated without permission of the
medical examiner as required by § 32.1-284 and visual identification of the
deceased by the next-of-kin or his representative, who may be any person
designated to make arrangements for the decedent's burial or the disposition of
his remains pursuant to § 54.1-2825, an agent named in an advance directive
pursuant to § 54.1-2984, or a sheriff, upon court order, if no next- of-kin,
designated person, or agent is available, or any guardian
appointed pursuant to Chapter 20 (§ 64.2-2000 et seq.) of Title 64.2 who may
exercise the powers conferred in the order of appointment or by § 64.2-2019.
If no next of kin, designated person, agent, or guardian is available or
willing to make visual identification of the deceased, such identification
shall be made by a member of the primary law-enforcement agency of the city or
county in which the person or institution having initial custody of the body is
located, pursuant to court order. When visual identification is not feasible,
other positive identification of the deceased may be used as a prerequisite for
cremation. Unless such act, decision, or omission resulted from bad faith or
malicious intent, the funeral service establishment, funeral service licensee,
crematory, cemetery, primary law-enforcement officer, or sheriff shall be
immune from civil liability for any act, decision, or omission resulting from
cremation. Nothing in this section shall prevent a law-enforcement agency other
than the primary law-enforcement agency from performing the duties established
by this section if so requested by the primary law-enforcement agency and
agreed to by the other law-enforcement agency.