C.R.S.
Section 12-135-109
Exceptions
- safe harbor
(1)
This part 1 shall not apply to, or in any way interfere with, the duties of the following persons:(a)
An officer of a public institution;(b)
An officer of a medical college, county medical society, anatomical association, or college of embalming; or(c)
A person acting under the authority of part 3 of article 19 of title 15.(2)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
This part 1 does not apply to, nor in any way interfere with, any custom or rite of any religious sect in the final disposition of its dead, and the members and followers of the religious sect may continue to provide memorial services for, care for, prepare, and provide for the final disposition of the bodies of deceased members of the religious sect, free from any term, condition, or provision of this part 1, and are not subject to this part 1, so long as the human remains are refrigerated, frozen, embalmed, interred, or cremated within seven days after death or the process of natural reduction is begun within seven days after death.(b)
If human remains are refrigerated or embalmed under subsection (2)(a) of this section, the body must be interred within, frozen within, or cremated within thirty days after death or the process of natural reduction must begin within thirty days after death; except that the coroner may authorize otherwise in writing. The coroner shall not permit an exception to this subsection (2)(b) unless the applicant can demonstrate a legitimate delay caused by unforeseen uncontrollable circumstances or by a criminal investigation.(c)
Notwithstanding this subsection (2), upon the receipt of evidence that the human remains likely contained a serious contagious disease, the state department of public health and environment, the state board of health, or a local department of health may issue an order overruling this subsection (2).(3)
A person who sells or offers to sell caskets, urns, or other funeral goods, but does not provide funeral services, shall not be subject to this article 135.(4)
If a funeral director, mortuary science practitioner, or embalmer has acted in good faith, the funeral director, mortuary science practitioner, or embalmer may rely on a signed statement from a person with the right of final disposition under section 15-19-106 that:(a)
The person knows of no document expressing the deceased’s wishes for final disposition that qualifies to direct the final disposition under section 15-19-104;(b)
The person has made a reasonable effort under section 15-19-106 to contact each person with the right of final disposition and to learn his or her wishes; and(c)
The person knows of no objections to the final disposition.(II)
A funeral establishment, funeral director, or mortuary science practitioner may comply with this subsection (5)(a) by transferring the cremated or naturally reduced remains and the records showing the funeral establishment and the deceased’s name, date of birth, and next of kin for final disposition to a facility or place normally used for final disposition if the new custodian can comply with this subsection (5)(a).(III)
If cremated remains are not claimed by the person with the right of final disposition within three years after cremation, a funeral establishment, funeral director, or mortuary science practitioner may dispose of the remains in an unrecoverable manner by placing the remains in an ossuary or by scattering the remains in a dedicated cemetery, scattering garden, or consecrated ground used exclusively for these purposes.(IV)
The custodian is not liable for the loss or destruction of records required to be kept by this subsection (5)(a) if the loss or destruction was not caused by the custodian’s negligence.(V)
If naturally reduced remains are not claimed by the person with the right of final disposition within one hundred eighty days after natural reduction, a funeral establishment, funeral director, or mortuary science practitioner may dispose of the remains in an unrecoverable manner by returning the remains to the earth in a respectful manner.(b)
If the person was cremated prior to July 1, 2003, and the funeral director or mortuary science practitioner reasonably attempts to notify the person with the right of final disposition of the provisions of this subsection (5), the cremated remains may be disposed of in accordance with this subsection (5) notwithstanding a failure to provide the notice of the provisions of this subsection (5) to the person with the right of final disposition prior to disposing of the remains.
Source:
Section 12-135-109 — Exceptions - safe harbor, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-12.pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
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