Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-6502
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-6502, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 63, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 63,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Safe disposal of human remains – Powers of public health
Official statutory text
authority – Identification and written record.
A. The public health authority may exercise, for such period as
the state of catastrophic health emergency exists, the following
powers regarding the safe disposal of human remains:
1. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and necessary to
respond to the catastrophic health emergency. Such measures may
include, but are not limited to, the embalming, burial, cremation,
interment, disinterment, transportation, and disposal of human
remains;
2. To take possession or control of any human remains; and
3. To order the disposal of any human remains of a person who
has died of a transmissible disease through burial or cremation
within twenty-four (24) hours after death. To the extent possible,
religious, cultural, family, and individual beliefs of the deceased
person or the family of the deceased person shall be considered when
disposing of any human remains.
B. Any human remains prior to disposal shall be clearly labeled
with all available information to identify the decedent and the
circumstances of death. Any human remains of a deceased person with
a transmissible disease shall have an external, clearly visible tag
indicating that the human remains are infected and, if known, the
transmissible disease.
C. Every person in charge of disposing of any human remains
during a catastrophic health emergency shall maintain a written or
electronic record of the human remains and all available information
to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death and
disposal. If human remains cannot be identified prior to disposal,
a qualified person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints
and photographs of the human remains, obtain identifying dental
information, and collect a DNA specimen. All information gathered
under this subsection shall be promptly forwarded to the public
health authority.
A. The public health authority may exercise, for such period as
the state of catastrophic health emergency exists, the following
powers regarding the safe disposal of human remains:
1. To adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe
disposal of human remains as may be reasonable and necessary to
respond to the catastrophic health emergency. Such measures may
include, but are not limited to, the embalming, burial, cremation,
interment, disinterment, transportation, and disposal of human
remains;
2. To take possession or control of any human remains; and
3. To order the disposal of any human remains of a person who
has died of a transmissible disease through burial or cremation
within twenty-four (24) hours after death. To the extent possible,
religious, cultural, family, and individual beliefs of the deceased
person or the family of the deceased person shall be considered when
disposing of any human remains.
B. Any human remains prior to disposal shall be clearly labeled
with all available information to identify the decedent and the
circumstances of death. Any human remains of a deceased person with
a transmissible disease shall have an external, clearly visible tag
indicating that the human remains are infected and, if known, the
transmissible disease.
C. Every person in charge of disposing of any human remains
during a catastrophic health emergency shall maintain a written or
electronic record of the human remains and all available information
to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death and
disposal. If human remains cannot be identified prior to disposal,
a qualified person shall, to the extent possible, take fingerprints
and photographs of the human remains, obtain identifying dental
information, and collect a DNA specimen. All information gathered
under this subsection shall be promptly forwarded to the public
health authority.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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