Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-900.10 - Cremation of human remains

(1) Recordkeeping.

a. Delivery receipt.

(1) When a human remains is delivered to a cremation establishment, the cremation establishment will furnish to the delivery person a delivery receipt containing:

1. The name, address, age, gender, and cause of death of the decedent whose human remains are delivered to the cremation establishment.

2. The date and time of delivery and the type of container that contains the human remains.

3. If applicable, the name of the funeral director who sent the human remains and the name and license number of the funeral director's associated funeral establishment.

4. The signature of the person who delivered the human remains.

5. The signature of the person receiving the human remains on behalf of the cremation establishment.

6. The name and business address of the cremation establishment.

(2) The cremation establishment will retain a copy of the delivery receipt in its permanent records.

b. Receiving receipt.

(1) The cremation establishment will furnish to any person who receives the cremated remains from the cremation establishment a receiving receipt containing:

1. The name of the decedent whose cremated remains are released from the cremation establishment.

2. The date and time when the cremated remains were released from the cremation establishment.

3. The name of the person to whom the cremated remains are released and the name and license number of the funeral establishment, cemetery, family or other person or entity with which that person is affiliated.

4. The signature of the person who receives the cremated remains.

5. The signature of the person who released the cremated remains on behalf of the cremation establishment.

6. The name of the cremation establishment operator and the date and time of the cremation.

(2) The cremation establishment will retain a copy of the receiving receipt in its permanent records.

c. Permanent record. A cremation establishment will maintain at its place of business a permanent record that includes the following:

(1) Name of the deceased person.

(2) Date and time of the cremation.

(3) Copies of the delivery receipt and the receiving receipt.

(4) Disposition of the cremated remains.

(5) Cremation authorization.

(6) Cremation permit if required in the jurisdiction of death.

(2) Employment of a funeral director by a cremation establishment. No aspect of these rules will be construed to require a funeral director to supervise or perform any functions at a cremation establishment not otherwise required by law to be performed by a funeral director. The cremation establishment will contract only with a licensed funeral establishment and will not contract directly with the general public.

(3) Authorizing person and preneed cremation arrangements. The authorized person has legal authority and may make decisions regarding the final disposition of the decedent.

(4) Authorization to cremate.

a. The cremation establishment will have the authority to cremate human remains upon the receipt of the following:

(1) Cremation authorization form signed by the authorized person. The cremation authorization form will contain the following:

1. The name, address, age and gender of the decedent whose human remains are to be cremated.

2. The date, time of death and cause of death of the decedent.

3. The name and license number of the funeral establishment and of the funeral director who obtained the cremation authorization form signed by the authorized person.

4. The signature of the funeral director.

5. The name and address of the cremation establishment authorized to cremate a human remains.

6. The name and signature of the authorized person granting permission to cremate the human remains and the authorized person's relationship to the decedent.

7. A representation that the authorized person has the right to authorize the cremation of the decedent in accordance with this rule.

8. A representation that in the event there is another person who has superior priority right to that of the authorized person, the authorized person has made all reasonable efforts to contact that person and has no reason to believe that the person would object to the cremation of the decedent.

9. A representation that a human remains does not contain any material or implants that may be potentially hazardous to equipment or persons performing the cremation.

10. A representation that the authorized person has made a positive identification of the decedent or, if the authorized person is unavailable or declines, there are alternative means of positive identification.

11. The name of the person, funeral establishment or funeral establishment's designee to which the cremated remains are to be released.

12. The manner of the final disposition of the cremated remains.

13. A listing of all items of value and instructions for their disposition.

(2) The cremation permit if required in the jurisdiction of death.

(3) Any other documentation required by this state.

b. If the authorized person is not available to execute the cremation authorization form in person, the funeral director may accept written authorization by facsimile, email, or such alternative written or electronic means the funeral director reasonably believes to be reliable and credible.

c. The authorized person may revoke the authorization and instruct the funeral director or funeral establishment to cancel the cremation. The cremation establishment will honor any instructions from a funeral director or funeral establishment under this rule if the cremation establishment receives instructions prior to beginning the cremation.

(5) Cremation procedures.

a. A cremation establishment will cremate human remains within 24 hours of issuance of the delivery receipt as defined in subrule 900.10(1).

b. No cremation establishment will cremate human remains when it has actual knowledge that the human remains contain a pacemaker or have any other implants or materials that will present a health hazard to those performing the cremation and processing and pulverizing the cremated remains.

c. No cremation establishment will refuse to accept human remains for cremation because such human remains are not embalmed.

d. Whenever a cremation establishment is unable or unauthorized to cremate human remains immediately upon taking custody of the remains, the cremation establishment will place the human remains in a holding facility in accordance with the cremation establishment rules and regulations and within the parameters of rules 481-900.5 (135,144) and 481-900.6 (156).

e. No cremation establishment will accept human remains unless they are delivered to the cremation establishment in a container that prevents the leakage of body fluids.

f. Under no circumstances will an alternative container or casket be opened at the cremation establishment except to facilitate proper cremation.

g. The container in which a human remains is delivered to the cremation establishment will be cremated with the human remains or safely destroyed.

h. The simultaneous cremation of the human remains of more than one person within the same cremation chamber, without the prior written consent of the authorized person, is prohibited. Nothing in this rule, however, will prevent the simultaneous cremation within the same cremation chamber of body parts delivered to the cremation establishment from multiple sources, or the use of cremation equipment that contains more than one cremation chamber.

i. No unauthorized person will be permitted in the holding facility or cremation room while any human remains are being held there awaiting cremation, being cremated, or being removed from the cremation chamber.

j. A cremation establishment will not allow removal of any dental gold, body parts, organs, or any item of value prior to or subsequent to a cremation without previously having received specific written authorization from the authorized person and written instructions for the delivery of these items to the authorized person.

k. Upon the completion of each cremation, and insofar as is practicable, all of the recoverable residue of the cremation process will be removed from the cremation chamber.

l. If all of the recovered cremated remains will not fit within the receptacle that has been selected, the remainder of the cremated remains will be returned to the authorized person or this person's designee in a separate container. The cremation establishment will not return to an authorized person or this person's designee more or less cremated remains than were removed from the cremation chamber.

m. A cremation establishment will not knowingly represent to an authorized person or this person's designee that a temporary cremation container or urn contains the cremated remains of a specific decedent when it does not.

n. Cremated remains will be shipped only by a method that has an internal tracing system available and that provides a receipt signed by the person accepting delivery.

o. A cremation establishment will maintain an identification system that will ensure the identity of human remains in the cremation establishment's possession throughout all phases of the cremation process. A noncombustible tag or disc that includes the name and license number of the cremation establishment and the city and state where the cremation establishment is located will be attached to the plastic bag with the cremated remains or placed in amongst the cremated remains.

(6) Disposition of cremated remains. If responsible, the funeral director will supervise the final disposition of the cremated remains as follows:

a. Cremated remains may be disposed of by placing them in a grave, crypt, or niche or by scattering them in a scattering area as defined in these rules, or they may remain in the personal care and custody of the authorized person. After supervising the transfer of cremated remains to the authorized person or place of final disposition, the funeral director will be discharged.

b. Upon the completion of the cremation process, the cremation establishment will release the cremated remains to the funeral establishment or the authorized person or the authorized person's designee. Upon the receipt of the cremated remains, the individual receiving them may transport them in any manner in this state without a burial transit permit and may dispose of them in accordance with this rule. After releasing the cremated remains, the cremation establishment will be discharged from any legal obligation or liability concerning the cremated remains.

c. If, after a period of 60 days from the date of the cremation, the authorizing person or designee has not instructed the funeral director to arrange for the final disposition of the cremated remains, the funeral director may dispose of the cremated remains in any manner permitted by this rule. The funeral establishment, however, will keep a permanent record identifying the site of final disposition. The authorizing person will be responsible for reimbursing the funeral establishment for all reasonable expenses incurred in disposing of the cremated remains. Any entity that was in possession of cremated remains prior to May 22, 2024, may dispose of them in accordance with this rule.

d. Except with the express written permission of the authorizing person, no funeral director or cremation establishment will:

(1) Dispose of cremated remains in a manner or in a location so that the cremated remains are commingled with those of another person. This prohibition will not apply to the scattering of cremated remains in an area located in a cemetery and used exclusively for those purposes.

(2) Place cremated remains of more than one person in the same temporary cremation container or urn.

(7) Scope of rules. These rules will be construed and interpreted as a comprehensive cremation statute, and the provisions of these rules will take precedence over any existing laws containing provisions applicable to cremation, but that do not specifically or comprehensively address cremation.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-900.10

ARC 7812C, IAB 4/17/2024, effective 5/22/2024; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 9/18/2024