Colorado lawmakers are taking action to address lax regulations in the funeral home industry following two egregious cases of mishandling bodies and cremated remains. A bipartisan House committee unanimously voted to introduce a bill that would require routine inspections of funeral homes, even after a home’s registration has expired, bringing Colorado’s regulations more in line with other states. The bill also aims to give the agency overseeing the industry greater enforcement power. This legislative action comes in the wake of recent cases of bodies being mishandled and fake ashes being sent to grieving families, leading to charges of abusing corpses.
The proposed bill, expected to be formally introduced in the coming weeks, will be accompanied by a second proposal to tighten qualification requirements for those who run funeral homes. Joe Walsh, president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association, expressed industry support for both proposals, acknowledging the need for change in light of recent incidents. Current law in Colorado does not mandate routine inspections of funeral homes or set qualification requirements for funeral home operators, resulting in cases of illegal activities within the industry dating back a decade. The proposed legislation aims to prevent future headline-grabbing cases while also addressing minor concerns within the industry, such as defining adequate refrigeration for human bodies.
The lack of regulations in Colorado has allowed for egregious cases to occur over the years, including instances of illegal body part sales and fake ashes being given to families between 2010 and 2018. The discovery of nearly 200 decomposing bodies at a Colorado funeral home in 2020 raised alarms, but lawmakers have been slow to pass regulations common in other states, such as yearly inspections and qualification requirements for operators. A law passed in 2022 granted state regulators the authority to conduct unannounced inspections, but lacked additional funding for implementation. The new proposal aims to address issues beyond headline-grabbing cases, giving regulators more flexibility to address concerns within the industry, such as proper storage of human remains.
The recent cases of mishandling bodies and cremated remains have left hundreds of families devastated and questioning the authenticity of the ashes they received. Sam Delp, who oversees funeral homes at the Department of Regulatory Agencies, highlighted instances of inadequate refrigeration and storage of human remains at funeral homes and crematories. If regulations were in place earlier, Delp believes that the mishandling of remains may have been discovered sooner. The proposed bill seeks to prevent future incidents and ensure that funeral homes in Colorado adhere to standards that are common in other states, such as routine inspections and qualification requirements for operators.
Overall, the proposed legislation aims to strengthen regulations in the funeral home industry in Colorado to prevent cases of abuse and mishandling of bodies and cremated remains. By requiring routine inspections, setting qualification requirements for operators, and giving regulators greater enforcement power, lawmakers hope to bring the state’s regulations more in line with national standards. The industry has expressed support for the proposed changes, recognizing the need to address past incidents and prevent future tragedies within the funeral home industry in Colorado.
