Body Tracking  Bill Becomes Law

Albany, NY -- September 19 -- Governor Pataki has signed into law a bill which would shield families from improper disposal of bodies delivered to a cemetery, crematory or other place of final disposition. The new law requires that written confirmation be given a funeral director when a body is so transferred. The bill was sponsored in the legislature by Senator Nicholas Spano (R-Yonkers) and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Greenburgh).

Bonnie Tippy, executive director of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) thanked the Governor for implementing this additional safeguard for the state's families who have lost a loved one. "NYSFDA and its 750 member funeral directors strongly supported this legislation to make sure that there would be no occurrence in New York State of the tragic events that unfolded at a Noble, Georgia crematory last year. Our state has some of the strongest laws in the nation regarding final disposition that serve to give peace of mind to families when a loved one's body is delivered to the final resting place."

Ms. Tippy added that the leadership of the funeral directors' organization had sought the legislation to establish a "paper trail" for custody of a body, so that families will know with certainty who is responsible for the body at each step in the process. "Funeral directors take very seriously their many responsibilities to a decedent's loved ones at a time of extreme emotional duress, and this new mechanism will help to provide survivors the enhanced level of comfort to which they are entitled."

The new law takes effect in 30 days.

-30-

For more information, or to schedule an interview please call: Bonnie Tippy or Randy McCullough at 518-452-8230, or Vera Nuspliger at 518-882-9816.