<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="5-513" title_number="5" title_name="Death" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>On taking custody of the body of a decedent in accordance with all authorizations required by law, a funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility shall maintain the body in a manner that provides for complete coverage of the body and prevents leakage or spillage except during:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Identification, embalming, or preparation of an unembalmed body for final disposition;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Restoration and dressing of a body in preparation for final disposition;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If applicable, placement inside a contained chamber or vessel without an external visual exposure during the process of alkaline hydrolysis or natural organic reduction; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Viewing during a visitation or funeral service.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If the unembalmed body of a decedent is to be stored for more than 48 hours before final disposition, a funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility shall maintain the body with refrigeration and at a temperature determined by regulation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility cannot secure the body of a decedent or cannot store the body as required in subsection (b) of this section due to an unforeseen circumstance, the funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility shall notify the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors or the Office of Cemetery Oversight and the person authorized to arrange for the final disposition of the body under § 5–509 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The notification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be made within 24 hours after the occurrence of the unforeseen circumstance; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Include the name and location of the facility where the body is being transferred, the reason for the transfer, and the method of storage.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The body of a decedent may not be embalmed or artificially preserved without:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The express permission of the person authorized to arrange for the final disposition of the body under § 5–509 of this subtitle; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A court order.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility shall store the body of a decedent until final disposition at:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A funeral establishment licensed under Title 7 of the Health Occupations Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A crematory or reduction facility licensed under Title 7 of the Health Occupations Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A crematory or reduction facility permitted under Title 5 of the Business Regulation Article; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Another facility that has passed an inspection with the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors or the Office of Cemetery Oversight within the past 2 years.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A funeral establishment, crematory, reduction facility, or transportation service may not transport or store the body of a decedent together with animal remains in the same confined space.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, while the body of a decedent is in the custody of a funeral establishment, crematory, or reduction facility in the State, the body may not be transported for preparation or storage to a facility that is not within the jurisdiction of the State, licensed by the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, or permitted by the Office of Cemetery Oversight.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The body of a decedent may be transported for preparation or storage to a facility that is not within the jurisdiction of the State, licensed by the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, or permitted by the Office of Cemetery Oversight if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The facility has entered into a written agreement with the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors or the Office of Cemetery Oversight to allow the State to make unannounced inspections of the facility; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The person authorized to arrange for the final disposition of the body under § 5–509 of this subtitle:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Has given written permission for the body to be transported to the facility; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <level label="A">
            <text>Has given oral permission for the body to be transported to the facility; and</text>
          </level>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Within 36 hours after giving oral permission, provides written verification of the oral permission.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
