Bill Text: PA HB964 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: In ownership of property and legal title and equitable estate, further providing for right to dispose of a decedent's remains.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-03-17 - Referred to JUDICIARY [HB964 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB964-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  1101

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

964

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, BARRAR, CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, GEIST, HARHAI, HARHART, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, MUNDY, SIPTROTH AND WANSACZ, MARCH 17, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 17, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the

2

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in ownership of property

3

and legal title and equitable estate, further providing for

4

right to dispose of a decedent's remains.

5

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

6

hereby enacts as follows:

7

Section 1.  The definition of "contrary intent" in section

8

305(e) of Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is

9

amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to

10

read:

11

§ 305.  Right to dispose of a decedent's remains.

12

* * *

13

(d.1)  Limitation of liability.--

14

(1)  A person who acts in good faith in accordance with

15

the provisions of this section relating to the final

16

disposition of a decedent's remains shall not be subject to

17

criminal or civil liability arising from any action taken by

18

the person relating to the final disposition.

 


1

(2)  The immunity provided by paragraph (1) shall not

2

extend to a person if damages result from the gross

3

negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of the

4

person relating to the final disposition of a decedent's

5

remains.

6

(e)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

7

words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

8

subsection:

9

"Contrary intent."  An explicit and sincere expression,

10

either verbal or written, of a decedent adult or emancipated

11

minor prior to death and not subsequently revoked that a person

12

other than the one authorized by this section determine the

13

final disposition of his remains. The term also includes a

14

written expression of a decedent adult or emancipated minor that

15

provides for the manner of final disposition of his remains.

16

* * *

17

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

- 2 -

 


feedback