Bill establishing tracking process for human remains passes Illinois Senate
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Legislation to prevent Illinois families from receiving the wrong remains of their loved ones has now passed one chamber of the statehouse.
Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) filed a bill in November that requires all funeral and crematory establishments in the state to include chain of custody records and start implementing a system to track uniquely identified remains. The bill passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday.
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Also in the bill is a requirement for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to to inspect the premises within 10 calendar days after receiving a complaint.
“The status quo isn’t working. Dead or alive, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” Turner said. “I’m committed to holding bad actors accountable. No family should receive the dreaded call that they were given the wrong remains.”
Last year, the Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon announced his office was opening an investigation into Heinz Funeral Home/Family Care Cremations in Carlinville after almost 80 families were given the wrong cremains. August Heinz, the funeral director for Heinz, has since had his license for embalming and funeral directing revoked by the state.
Allmon is an advocate for the bill.
“The victimization these families have had to endure is egregious and long lasting,” Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said. “This common-sense legislation will help ensure that our loved and lost are given the dignity they deserve.”
The bill now heads to the House.
A related bill, filed by Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield), would criminalize mishandling remains as a class 4 felony. That bill has not yet left the committee.
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