90:1 Cremation of Human Remains; Medical Examiner's Certificate. Amend RSA 325-A:18, I to read as follows:

I. The body of a deceased person shall not be cremated within 48 hours after his or her decease unless he or she died of a contagious or infectious disease. If the death occurred within the state, the body shall not be cremated by the crematory authority until the crematory authority has received the certificate of burial permit required by law before burial, and a certificate from a medical examiner that he or she has viewed the body and made personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death, and is of the opinion that no further examination or judicial inquiry concerning the same is necessary. If the death occurred within the state but the body is being transferred out of state for cremation, the transfer shall not occur until the medical examiner has conducted such a view and inquiry and has issued a certificate. If the death occurs without the state, the reception and cremation of the body of a deceased person shall be governed by rules adopted by the board after consultation with the chief medical examiner.

90:2 Death Registration Forms and Procedures; Cremation. Amend RSA 5-C:71, I to read as follows:

I. When the body of a deceased person is to be disposed of by cremation, the crematory operator, the funeral director, next of kin, or designated agent in charge of the final disposition arrangements shall present a copy of the death certificate and the burial permit or emergency burial permit with the body to a medical examiner in order to obtain the medical examiner's certificate.

90:3 Death Registration Forms and Procedures; Medical Certification of the Death Record. Amend RSA 5-C:64, VI to read as follows:

VI. In the absence of the deceased's attending physician, APRN, or physician assistant or with the attending physician's, APRN's, or physician assistant's approval, the medical certification of a death due to natural causes shall be completed by one of the following individuals: the attending physician's, APRN's, or physician assistant's associate physician, APRN in medical practice, or physician assistant, the chairperson of the applicable clinical department, the chief medical officer of the hospital, the physician, APRN, or physician assistant or designee who performed an autopsy upon the decedent, or the physician, APRN, or physician assistant on duty if the death occurred in the hospital emergency room. The person determining the cause of death shall attest to its accuracy. The person determining the cause of death shall have viewed the deceased within 24 hours after death.

90:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 10, 2025

Effective Date: August 09, 2025

90:1 Cremation of Human Remains; Medical Examiner's Certificate. Amend RSA 325-A:18, I to read as follows:

I. The body of a deceased person shall not be cremated within 48 hours after his or her decease unless he or she died of a contagious or infectious disease. If the death occurred within the state, the body shall not be cremated by the crematory authority until the crematory authority has received the certificate of burial permit required by law before burial, and a certificate from a medical examiner that he or she has made personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death, and is of the opinion that no further examination or judicial inquiry concerning the same is necessary. If the death occurred within the state but the body is being transferred out of state for cremation, the transfer shall not occur until the medical examiner has conducted such an inquiry and has issued a certificate. If the death occurs without the state, the reception and cremation of the body of a deceased person shall be governed by rules adopted by the board after consultation with the chief medical examiner.

90:2 Death Registration Forms and Procedures; Cremation. Amend RSA 5-C:71, I to read as follows:

I. When the body of a deceased person is to be disposed of by cremation, the crematory operator, the funeral director, next of kin, or designated agent in charge of the final disposition arrangements shall present a copy of the death certificate and the burial permit or emergency burial permit to a medical examiner in order to obtain the medical examiner's certificate.

90:3 Death Registration Forms and Procedures; Medical Certification of the Death Record. Amend RSA 5-C:64, VI to read as follows:

VI. In the absence of the deceased's attending physician, APRN, or physician assistant or with the attending physician's, APRN's, or physician assistant's approval, the medical certification of a death due to natural causes shall be completed by one of the following individuals: the attending physician's, APRN's, or physician assistant's associate physician, APRN in medical practice, or physician assistant, the chairperson of the applicable clinical department, the chief medical officer of the hospital, the physician, APRN, or physician assistant or designee who performed an autopsy upon the decedent, or the physician, APRN, or physician assistant on duty if the death occurred in the hospital emergency room. The person determining the cause of death shall attest to its accuracy.

90:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 10, 2025

Effective Date: August 09, 2025