PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

H.B. 547

(4)     An adult brother or sister of the decedent;

(5)     A person acting as a representative of the decedent under a signed
authorization of the decedent;

(6)     The guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of the decedent's
death, if one has been appointed; or

(7)     In the absence of any person under paragraphs (1) through (6) of this
subsection, any other person willing to assume the responsibility to act as the authorizing
agent for purposes of arranging the final disposition of the decedent's body, including the
personal representative of the decedent's estate, after attesting in writing that a good
faith effort has been made to no avail to contact the individuals under paragraphs (1)
through (6) of this subsection.

(d)     (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a decedent has more than
one survivor under subsection (c) (1) through (4) of this subsection, any adult child,
parent, or adult brother or sister of the decedent who confirms in writing to a practitioner
that all of the other members of the same class have been notified may serve as the
authorizing agent FOR PURPOSES OF § 5-502 OF THIS SUBTITLE unless the practitioner
receives a written objection to the cremation from another member of that class within 24
hours.

(2) If a decedent has more than one survivor under subsection (c)(1)
through (4) of this section, the majority of a class may serve as the authorizing agent.

(e)     In the case of an individual whose final disposition is the responsibility of the
State or any of its instrumentalities, a public administrator, medical examiner, coroner,
State-appointed guardian, or any other public official charged with arranging the final
disposition of the decedent may serve as the authorizing agent for purposes of § 5-502 of
this subtitle.

(f)      In the case of an individual who has donated the individual's body to medical
science or whose death occurred in a nursing home or other private institution, a
representative of the institution to which the body was donated or in which the decedent
died may serve as the authorizing agent FOR PURPOSES OF § 5-502 OF THIS SUBTITLE if
the decedent executed cremating authorization forms and the institution is charged with
making arrangements for the final disposition of the body.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1995.

May 24, 1995

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

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