H 3281  General Bill, By King and Robinson
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-600, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO PERMITS FOR CREMATION WHICH MUST BE ISSUED BY CORONERS, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT NO FEE FOR A PERMIT FOR CREMATION MAY BE CHARGED; AND TO AMEND
 SECTION 44-63-40, RELATING TO COUNTY REGISTRARS AND THE ISSUANCE OF
 BURIAL-REMOVAL-TRANSIT PERMITS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A CORONER OR MEDICAL
 EXAMINER FROM CHARGING A FEE FOR SUCH PERMIT.

   12/09/20  House  Prefiled
   12/09/20  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
   01/12/21  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 144)
   01/12/21  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry (House Journal-page 144)
   03/11/21  House  Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry (House Journal-page 5)
   03/16/21  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 33)
   03/16/21  House  Roll call Yeas-106  Nays-2 (House Journal-page 33)
   03/17/21  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 24)
   03/17/21  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/17/21  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 6)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 11, 2021

H. 3281

S. Printed 3/11/21--H.

Read the first time January 12, 2021.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3281) to amend Section 17-5-600, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to permits for cremation which must be issued by coroners, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

WILLIAM E. SANDIFER III for Committee.

TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-600, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERMITS FOR CREMATION WHICH MUST BE ISSUED BY CORONERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO FEE FOR A PERMIT FOR CREMATION MAY BE CHARGED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-63-40, RELATING TO COUNTY REGISTRARS AND THE ISSUANCE OF BURIAL-REMOVAL-TRANSIT PERMITS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER FROM CHARGING A FEE FOR SUCH PERMIT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 17-5-600 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 17-5-600.    When the body of any a dead person who died in the county is to be cremated, the person who has requested the cremation must secure a permit for the cremation from the coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner, or deputy medical examiner. A person who wilfully fails to secure a permit for cremation is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars. A permit for cremation promptly must be acted upon by the coroner or medical examiner and no fee for a permit for cremation may be charged."

SECTION    2.    Section 44-63-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-63-40.    (A)    The State Registrar must appoint the chief administrative officer of each county health department as the county registrar. All persons in the county required by law to file reports of birth, death, and fetal death must transmit these reports to the State Registrar at intervals prescribed by the State Registrar. The county registrar may appoint a deputy registrar who is vested with the right to carry on the duties of the office. The county registrar and deputy registrar must carry out the duties formerly carried out by local registrars without additional compensation. The county registrar must appoint a subregistrar for each hospital, nursing home, and other institution as required within the county whose duty it is to issue Burial-Removal-Transit Permits for deaths occurring at the hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions. The county registrar must require the coroner of the county to issue Burial-Removal-Transit Permits for deaths occurring outside hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions.

(B)    No coroner or medical examiner may charge a fee for a Burial-Removal-Transit Permit."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.