2006 Minnesota Statutes

149A.93 TRANSPORTATION OF DEAD HUMAN BODIES.
    Subdivision 1. Permits required. After removal from the place of death to any location
where the body is held awaiting final disposition, further transportation of the body shall require a
transit permit issued by a licensed mortician. Permits shall contain the information required on the
permit form as furnished by the commissioner.
    Subd. 2. Transit permit. A transit permit is required when:
(1) legal and physical custody of the body is transferred;
(2) a body is transported by public transportation; or
(3) a body is removed from the state.
    Subd. 3. Disposition permit. A disposition permit is required before a body can be buried,
entombed, or cremated. No disposition permit shall be issued until a fact of death record has
been completed.
    Subd. 4. Possession of permit. Until the body is delivered for final disposition, the
disposition permit shall be in possession of the person in physical or legal custody of the body, or
attached to the transportation container which holds the body. At the place of final disposition,
legal custody of the body shall pass with the filing of the disposition permit with the person in
charge of that place.
    Subd. 5. Death outside state; disposition permit. When a death occurs outside of the state
and the body travels into or through this state, the body must be accompanied by a permit for
burial, removal, or other disposition issued in accordance with the laws and rules of the state
where the death occurred.
    Subd. 6. Conveyances permitted for transportation. A dead human body may be
transported by means of public transportation provided that the body must be properly embalmed
and encased in an appropriate container, or by any private vehicle or aircraft that meets the
following standards:
(1) promotes respect for and preserves the dignity of the dead human body;
(2) shields the body from being viewed from outside of the conveyance;
(3) has ample enclosed area to accommodate a regulation ambulance cot, aircraft ambulance
stretcher, casket, alternative container, or cremation container in a horizontal position;
(4) is designed to permit loading and unloading of the body without excessive tilting of the
casket, alternative container, or cremation container; and
(5) if used for the transportation of more than one dead human body at one time, the vehicle
must be designed so that a body or container does not rest directly on top of another body or
container and that each body or container is secured to prevent the body or container from
excessive movement within the conveyance.
    Subd. 7. Transportation procedures. When a dead human body is transported by public
transportation, it must be properly embalmed and enclosed in a casket or alternative container
and an appropriate outside shipping container. When transportation is by any private vehicle or
aircraft, the outside shipping container may be omitted or the casket or alternative container and
the outside container may both be omitted and, in such case, the body shall be wrapped in a sheet
that is impervious to liquids, covered in such a manner that the body cannot be viewed, encased in
a secure pouch, and placed on a regulation ambulance cot or on an aircraft ambulance stretcher.
    Subd. 8. Who may transport. Subject to section 149A.09, a dead human body need not be
transported under the direct, personal supervision of a licensed mortician or funeral director. In
circumstances where there is no reasonable probability that unlicensed personnel will encounter
family members or other persons with whom funeral arrangements are normally made by licensed
morticians or funeral directors, a dead human body may be transported without the direct,
personal supervision of a licensed mortician. Any inadvertent contact with family members
or other persons as described above shall be restricted to unlicensed personnel identifying the
employer to the person encountered, offering to arrange an appointment with the employer for
any person who indicates a desire to make funeral arrangements for the deceased, and making any
disclosure to the person that is required by state or federal regulations. A licensed mortician or
funeral director who directs the transport of a dead human body without providing direct, personal
supervision shall be held strictly accountable for compliance with this chapter.
    Subd. 9. Embalming required. Except as provided in section 149A.94, subdivision 2, a dead
human body that is being transported by public transportation or will not be buried, cremated, or
entombed within 72 hours following death or release by a competent authority with jurisdiction
over the body must be properly embalmed.
History: 1997 c 215 s 39; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 15 s 32; 2005 c 106 s 58-62