ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 695

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 15, 1996

      The Assembly Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 695.

      Assembly Bill No. 695 clarifies the responsibility of a county to pay the burial costs of indigent, unidentified or unclaimed deceased persons. Under current law there is a conflict between R.S.44:1-157 and section 1 of P.L.1987, c.67 (C.40A:9-49.1) as to whether the municipality or county is responsible for burial costs. This bill repeals R.S.44:1-157 to make it clear that the county is responsible for the burial costs and adds language to other statutes to cover the disposition of unclaimed dead bodies, whether or not an identity has been established.

      Assembly Bill No. 695 was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-97 legislative session pending technical review. As reported by the committee, the bill contains the changes that are required by technical review, which has been performed.