Human remains.

Existing law, the Cemetery Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of cemeteries, crematories, and their personnel by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires a person who has had a license or registration under the jurisdiction of the bureau revoked, suspended, placed on probation, or surrendered under a stipulated decision, within the immediately preceding 10 years, and who is employed by or who seeks employment with, a licensed cemetery, a licensed crematory, or a licensed cemetery broker to so inform the cemetery manager, crematory manager, or cemetery broker, respectively, as defined. Existing law creates the Cemetery Fund, which is continuously appropriated for the purpose of implementing the Cemetery Act. Violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law establishes certified uniform program agencies, which are agencies certified by the Secretary for Environmental Protection to implement a specified unified program relating to hazardous waste and materials in accordance with certain requirements. This bill, until January 1, 2019, would require the bureau to license and regulate, as specified, hydrolysis facilities and hydrolysis facility managers, as defined, and would enact requirements substantially similar to those applicable to crematoria. By expanding the definition of crimes relating to the disposition of human remains and creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require that specified fees paid to finance hydrolysis facility regulation be deposited in the Cemetery Fund. By depositing moneys in a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. The bill would require certified unified program agencies to ensure compliance with certain environmental standards, and to comply with specified reporting requirements. By increasing the duties of local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.