1. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Alkaline hydrolysis” means the process of reducing human remains using water, alkaline chemicals, and heat inside a watertight vessel to accelerate decomposition.
3. (c) “Authorizing agent” has the meaning stated in § 5-508 of the Health--General Article.

4. (d)

   1. (1) “Burial goods” means goods that are used in connection with burial.

   2. (2) “Burial goods” includes:

      1. (i) a casket;
      2. (ii) a grave liner;
      3. (iii) a memorial;
      4. (iv) a monument;
      5. (v) a scroll;
      6. (vi) an urn;
      7. (vii) a vase; and
      8. (viii) a vault.
5. (e) “Burial goods business” means a business that provides burial goods.

6. (f)

   1. (1) “Cemetery” means land used or to be used for interment.
   2. (2) “Cemetery” includes a structure used or to be used for interment.
7. (g) “Cremation” means the disposition of a dead human body by means of incineration.
8. (h) “Crematory” means a building, portion of a building, or structure that houses the necessary appliances and facilities for cremation or alkaline hydrolysis.
9. (i) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Cemetery Oversight.

10. (j) “Engage in the operation of a cemetery” means owning, controlling, or managing a cemetery, including performing activities necessary for:

    1. (1) the establishment, improvement, care, preservation, or embellishment of a cemetery;
    2. (2) interment; and
    3. (3) the providing of burial space or burial goods.

11. (k)

    1. (1) “Engage in the operation of a crematory” means controlling or managing a crematory.

    2. (2) “Engage in the operation of a crematory” does not include:

       1. (i) the practice of funeral direction or the practice of mortuary science; or

       2. (ii) 1. assistance in making decisions and filling out forms that are not directly related to cremation;

          1. 2. obtaining vital statistics, signatures, and other information necessary to complete a death certificate;
          2. 3. transportation of a body to the place of disposition; or
          3. 4. any other services regarding the disposition of a body that are not directly related to cremation.

12. (l)

    1. (1) “Engage in the operation of a reduction facility” means controlling or managing a reduction facility.

    2. (2) “Engage in the operation of a reduction facility” does not include:

       1. (i) the practice of funeral direction or the practice of mortuary science; or

       2. (ii) 1. assistance in making decisions and filling out forms that are not directly related to natural organic reduction;

          1. 2. obtaining vital statistics, signatures, and other information necessary to complete a death certificate;
          2. 3. transportation of a body to the place of disposition; or
          3. 4. any other services regarding the disposition of a body that are not directly related to natural organic reduction.
13. (m) “Funeral establishment” means a building, structure, or premises from which the business of funeral directing or embalming is conducted.

14. (n)

    1. (1) “Human remains” means:

       1. (i) the body of a deceased person; or
       2. (ii) a part of a body or limb that has been removed from a living person.
    2. (2) “Human remains” includes the body or part of a body or limb in any state of decomposition.
    3. (3) “Human remains” does not include soil remains produced after the completion of natural organic reduction.
15. (o) “Hydrolyzed remains” means the bone fragments produced by the completion of alkaline hydrolysis.

16. (p) “Interment” means all final disposition of human remains or pet remains, including:

    1. (1) earth burial;
    2. (2) mausoleum entombment; and
    3. (3) niche or columbarium interment.
17. (q) “Natural organic reduction” means the contained accelerated conversion of human remains into soil.
18. (r) “Office” means the Office of Cemetery Oversight.

19. (s) “Permit” means a permit issued by the Director to allow a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation to operate a business through which a registrant may:

    1. (1) engage in the operation of a cemetery or crematory; or
    2. (2) provide burial goods.

20. (t)

    1. (1) “Pet remains” means the body of a deceased animal that was kept as a pet.
    2. (2) “Pet remains” includes the body of a pet or a part of a pet's body in any state of decomposition or the body of a pet after having been cremated.

21. (u)

    1. (1) “Preneed goods” means burial goods that are sold before the buyer's death.
    2. (2) “Preneed goods” does not include burial space.

22. (v) “Provide burial goods” means a retail transaction:

    1. (1) to erect, service, or inscribe burial memorials; or
    2. (2) to sell burial goods.
23. (w) “Reduction facility” means a building, portion of a building, or structure that houses the necessary appliances, containers, and facilities for performing natural organic reduction.
24. (x) “Registered cemeterian” means an individual registered to operate a cemetery as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or of a permit holder.
25. (y) “Registered crematory operator” means an individual registered to operate a crematory as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or permit holder.
26. (z) “Registered reduction operator” means an individual registered to operate a reduction facility as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or a permit holder.
27. (aa) “Registered seller” means an individual registered to provide burial goods as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or of a permit holder.
28. (bb) “Registration” means a registration issued by the Director authorizing an individual to operate a cemetery, to operate a crematory, to operate a reduction facility, or to provide burial goods.
29. (cc) “Responsible party” means a sole proprietor or the individual designated by a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation to be responsible for the operations of a cemetery, crematory, reduction facility, or burial goods business.
30. (dd) “Soil remains” means the soil produced at final disposition of a dead human body at a reduction facility by completion of natural organic reduction.

Added by Acts 1992, c. 4, § 2. Amended by Acts 1997, c. 675, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, c. 12, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, c. 186, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2010, c. 450, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2012, c. 500, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 501, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2015, c. 349, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2023, c. 591, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2024, c. 599, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 600, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024.

Formerly Art. 23, §§ 165A, 165B.