SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - After Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville mishandled dozens of human remains, State Senator Doris Turner introduced legislation regarding the funeral home industry.
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The new bill creates new protocols to protect families who have lost loved ones. The bill has two main components. The first establishes an identification tagging system for all human remains. The second creates a chain of custody, which track human remains from death to burial or return to family.Â
"It's important for this legislation that we look at the industry," said Senator Turner. "Because it doesn't matter if you are a funeral director in any part of the state, this legislation will put safeguards in place affixed to the industry."
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said these procedures are followed very regularly in the funeral care industry. However, laws like this make it easier to hold funeral homes accountable.Â
"A lot of this stuff, 99% of funeral directors are already doing but this is just something that had to be put in statute, pen to paper, because of what happened in Carlinville," said Allmon.
Senator Turner is calling this the Integrity in Death Care Act. She said she is determined to make sure a situation like this never happens again, especially because of how difficult the situation was emotionally for the families impacted.
"Can you just imagine you bury your mother next to your father and then you find out later that that wasn't your mother that's buried next to your father?" asked Senator Turner.Â
Senate Bill 2643 was introduced on November 8th by Senator Turner.Â
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