Do you support this bill?

Assembly Bill A11146B

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the handling of certain unclaimed human remains

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate & Assembly

Please enter your contact information

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-A11146 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9930
Law Section:
Public Health Law
Laws Affected:
Add §4211-a, Pub Health L

2025-A11146 - Summary

Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

2025-A11146 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11146
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. WIEDER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Health
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the public health law, in relation to the handling of
   certain unclaimed bodies
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  public health law is amended by adding a new section
 4211-a to read as follows:
   § 4211-A. CADAVERS; UNCLAIMED; DELIVERY TO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 1.
 NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION FORTY-TWO  HUNDRED  ELEVEN  OF
 THIS  TITLE,  AND  PRIOR  TO  THE DISPOSITION OF A BODY PURSUANT TO SUCH
 SECTION, IF THE BODY OF A DECEASED PERSON IS NOT CLAIMED AS PROVIDED  IN
 SECTION  FORTY-TWO  HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE AND SUCH PERSON IS KNOWN
 TO HAVE BEEN OF  JEWISH DESCENT OR OF MUSLIM DESCENT,  THE  DIRECTOR  OR
 PERSON IN CHARGE OF ANY HOSPITAL, INSTITUTION, MORGUE OR OTHER PLACE FOR
 BODIES  OF  DECEASED  PERSONS NOT INTERRED OR OTHERWISE FINALLY DISPOSED
 OF, AND EVERY FUNERAL DIRECTOR, UNDERTAKER OR  OTHER  PERSON  HAVING  IN
 THEIR  LAWFUL   POSSESSION, ANY BODY OF A DECEASED  PERSON  FOR  KEEPING
 OR BURIAL, SHALL CONTACT:   (A) FOR PERSONS  OF  JEWISH  DESCENT:    (I)
 MISASKIM, 5805 16TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11204, (718) 854-4548; (II) CHESED
 SHEL  EMES,  1224  52ND  ST,  BROOKLYN, NY 11219, (855) 273-2121; AND/OR
 (III) HEBREW FREE BURIAL ASSOCIATION, INC. 330 7TH  AVENUE,  10TH  FLOOR
 NEW  YORK,  NY  10001,  (212)  239-1664;  OR  (B)  FOR PERSONS OF MUSLIM
 DESCENT:  JANAZAH COMMUNITY FUNERAL SERVICES, 5306 3RD AVE, BROOKLYN, NY
 11220, (646) 427-3885, OR ANY SUCCESSOR ORGANIZATIONS,  AND  INQUIRE  IF
 THE  ORGANIZATION  IS  WILLING  TO  PAY  FOR  THE  BURIAL EXPENSE OF THE
 DECEASED PERSON, AND, IF THE ORGANIZATION IS WILLING TO DO  SO,  DELIVER
 THE  BODY OF THE DECEASED PERSON IN THEIR POSSESSION, CHARGE, CUSTODY OR
 CONTROL NOT PLACED THEREIN BY ANY PERSON,  AGENCY  OR  ORGANIZATION  FOR
 KEEPING,  BURIAL  OR  OTHER LAWFUL DISPOSITION TO THE AGREEING ORGANIZA-
 TION.
   2.  NO UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS SHALL BE BURIED, CREMATED, OR OTHERWISE
 FINALLY DISPOSED OF UNLESS SUCH REMAINS HAVE FIRST BEEN ENTERED INTO THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15576-02-6

2025-A11146A - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9930
Law Section:
Public Health Law
Laws Affected:
Add §4211-a, Pub Health L

2025-A11146A - Summary

Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

2025-A11146A - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 11146--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. WIEDER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health  law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the
   "Sacred  Burial  Law"  facilitating  the handling of certain unclaimed
   bodies

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "Sacred Burial Law".
   § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new  section  4211-a
 to read as follows:
   § 4211-A. CADAVERS; UNCLAIMED; DELIVERY TO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 1.
 NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  PROVISIONS  OF SECTION FORTY-TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN OF
 THIS TITLE, AND PRIOR TO THE DISPOSITION OF  A  BODY  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH
 SECTION,  IF THE BODY OF A DECEASED PERSON IS NOT CLAIMED AS PROVIDED IN
 SECTION FORTY-TWO HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE AND SUCH PERSON  IS  KNOWN
 TO  HAVE  BEEN OF   JEWISH DESCENT OR OF MUSLIM DESCENT, THE DIRECTOR OR
 PERSON IN CHARGE OF ANY HOSPITAL, INSTITUTION, MORGUE OR OTHER PLACE FOR
 BODIES OF DECEASED PERSONS NOT INTERRED OR  OTHERWISE  FINALLY  DISPOSED
 OF,  AND  EVERY  FUNERAL  DIRECTOR, UNDERTAKER OR OTHER PERSON HAVING IN
 THEIR LAWFUL  POSSESSION, ANY BODY OF A DECEASED  PERSON   FOR   KEEPING
 OR  BURIAL,  SHALL  CONTACT:    (A) FOR PERSONS OF JEWISH DESCENT:   (I)
 MISASKIM, 5805 16TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11204, (718) 854-4548; (II) CHESED
 SHEL EMES, 1224 52ND ST, BROOKLYN,  NY  11219,  (855)  273-2121;  AND/OR
 (III)  HEBREW  FREE  BURIAL ASSOCIATION, INC. 330 7TH AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
 NEW YORK, NY 10001,  (212)  239-1664;  OR  (B)  FOR  PERSONS  OF  MUSLIM
 DESCENT:  JANAZAH COMMUNITY FUNERAL SERVICES, 5306 3RD AVE, BROOKLYN, NY
 11220,  (646)  427-3885,  OR ANY SUCCESSOR ORGANIZATIONS, AND INQUIRE IF
 THE ORGANIZATION IS WILLING  TO  PAY  FOR  THE  BURIAL  EXPENSE  OF  THE
 DECEASED  PERSON,  AND, IF THE ORGANIZATION IS WILLING TO DO SO, DELIVER
 THE BODY OF THE DECEASED PERSON IN THEIR POSSESSION, CHARGE, CUSTODY  OR
 CONTROL  NOT  PLACED  THEREIN  BY ANY PERSON, AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15576-05-6

co-Sponsors

2025-A11146B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9930
Law Section:
Public Health Law
Laws Affected:
Add §4211-a, Pub Health L

2025-A11146B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits unclaimed human remains from being buried, cremated, or otherwise finally disposed of unless such remains have first been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and for a period of time thereafter as specified by the commissioner of health.

2025-A11146B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 11146--B
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. WIEDER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from  said
   committee  with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommit-
   ted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to  the  handling  of
   certain unclaimed remains
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 4211-a to read as follows:
   § 4211-A. UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS. NO UNCLAIMED HUMAN REMAINS SHALL BE
 BURIED,  CREMATED,  OR OTHERWISE FINALLY DISPOSED OF UNLESS SUCH REMAINS
 HAVE FIRST BEEN ENTERED  INTO  THE  NATIONAL  MISSING  AND  UNIDENTIFIED
 PERSONS SYSTEM, OR ANY SUCCESSOR DATABASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
 PROCEDURES.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15576-08-6

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.