SB 21-006 CO

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Became Law

The act authorizes human remains to be converted to soil using a container that accelerates the process of biological decomposition, also known as "natural reduction". Natural reduction is added to the statutes that regulate funeral establishments, and this addition will result in the regulation of the natural reduction process. But the definitions of "cremation" and "mortuary science practitioner" are amended so that a practitioner of natural reduction is not regulated as a cremationist or mortuary science practitioner.The act allows the disposal of abandoned naturally reduced remains if the remains are not claimed within 180 days after natural reduction.The act prohibits the following when done in the course of business:Selling or offering to sell the soil; Commingling the soil of more than one person without the consent of the person or persons with the right of final disposition unless the soil is abandoned; Commingling the human remains of more than one person without the consent of the person or persons with the right of final disposition within the container wherein natural reduction produces soil; or Using the soil to grow food for human consumption. Colorado law has various provisions that deal with burial, cremation, interment, and entombment. In connection with authorizing natural reduction, the act replaces these terms with the phrase "final disposition", which term is defined to include natural reduction. The act updates the following types of provisions to reflect the option to use natural reduction:Life insurance statutes; Preneed funeral insurance contracts; The "Mortuary Science Code"; Funeral picketing statutes; Litigation damages; The "Colorado Probate Code"; The "Disposition of Last Remains Act"; The "Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act"; Missing person reports for unidentified human remains; Public peace and order statutes; Vital statistics statutes; The "Colorado Medical Assistance Act"; The "Colorado Human Services Code"; The "Colorado Public Assistance Act"; and Firefighter pension plans.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• Robert Rodriguez Democratic · primary
• Matt Soper Republican · primary
• Brianna Titone Democratic · primary

1. May 10, 2021 Governor Signed · executive
2. Apr 30, 2021 Sent to the Governor · executive
3. Apr 29, 2021 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
4. Apr 29, 2021 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
5. Apr 27, 2021 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · lower
6. Apr 26, 2021 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments · lower
7. Apr 23, 2021 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
8. Apr 1, 2021 House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Unamended to Appropriations · lower
9. Mar 17, 2021 Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment · lower
10. Mar 16, 2021 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
11. Mar 12, 2021 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor · upper
12. Mar 12, 2021 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
13. Feb 16, 2021 Senate Committee on Local Government Refer Unamended to Appropriations · upper
14. Feb 16, 2021 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government · upper

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Signed Act (05/10/2021) · PDF
• Final Act (04/29/2021) · PDF
• Rerevised (04/27/2021) · PDF
• Revised (04/26/2021) · PDF
• Reengrossed (03/16/2021) · PDF
• Engrossed (03/12/2021) · PDF
• Introduced (02/16/2021) · PDF
• Committee Amendment · PDF