SCS HCS HB 111 -- UNCLAIMED VETERANS' REMAINS

This bill allows the unclaimed cremated remains of a veteran to
be collected by a veterans' service organization for the purpose
of interment if the remains have been in possession of a funeral
establishment for at least one year and the funeral establishment
has given written notice to the person who is entitled to the
remains and that person has not claimed the remains within the
specified time frame.  If the address of the person entitled to
the remains cannot be reasonably ascertained, notice must be
given in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the
veteran's residence.  If the veteran's residence is unknown,
notice must be given in the county where the veteran died or, if
the death location is unknown, in the county in which the funeral
establishment is located.  If the remains are not claimed within
30 days of the mailing of the written notice or within four
months of the date of the first newspaper publication, the
remains may be given to a veterans' service organization for
interment.

A veterans' service organization is not liable for simple
negligence if it inters and does not scatter the cremated remains
and does not know or has no reason to know that the remains do
not satisfy the requirements of the bill but must take all
reasonable steps to inter the remains in a veterans' cemetery.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:23 am