An Act To Update Reimbursement Rates For Transportation Of Deceased Persons By Funeral Homes When The Transport Is At The Request Of The Chief Medical Examiner

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 4 co-sponsors

LD 562 funds higher reimbursements to funeral homes and staff for CME-requested transport of the deceased, including waiting time, with General Fund support via the AG.

Signed by Governor

#deadbodies #death #transportation

LD 562 — An Act To Update Reimbursement Rates For Transportation Of Deceased Persons By Funeral Homes When The Transport Is At The Request Of The Chief Medical Examiner

What the bill would do

Update and establish reimbursement rates for funeral homes that transport deceased persons when the transport is requested by the Chief Medical Examiner (CME).

Create a new reimbursement for the time an employee must wait while funeral establishments are arranged or transport a body at the CME’s request.

Fund these reimbursements with General Fund appropriations administered by the Department of the Attorney General (AG).

Key provisions

Increases in the transportation reimbursement rate paid to funeral homes for CME-requested transport.

Establishment of a reimbursement rate for employees who must wait for funeral establishments to complete transport arrangements for the CME.

Administrative responsibility rests with the Department of the Attorney General; funding comes from the General Fund.

The bill was amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-103) during the legislative process.

Fiscal impact

Preliminary and revised fiscal notes both project a net General Fund cost of $49,026 per year.

Funding authorized: $49,026 annually beginning in FY 2025-26, through at least FY 2028-29.

These appropriations are intended to cover the increased transportation reimbursement rate and the new waiting-time reimbursement.

Who would be affected

Funeral homes that perform transportation of deceased persons at the CME’s request.

Funeral home staff who would be reimbursed for waiting time.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, through the AG’s oversight and budgeting.

The General Fund as the funding source.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: February 19, 2025.

Referred to the Health and Human Services Committee; work session held April 2, 2025; Voted OTP-AM (Ought to Pass as Amended) on April 2.

Committee Amendment "A" (S-103) adopted May 20, 2025; bill as amended then passed the House/Senate stages on May 22-27, 2025.

On May 27, 2025, the bill was sent for concurrence and placed on the Special Appropriations Table pending enactment.

Status as of June 25, 2025: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

Summary

LD 562 aims to modernize and fund reimbursement rates for funeral homes and their staff when transporting deceased persons at the explicit request of the Chief Medical Examiner. It provides a dedicated General Fund appropriation to cover the increased transport rates and waiting-time reimbursements, with oversight and administration by the Department of the Attorney General. The bill has been amended and carried over, awaiting potential action in a future session of the 132nd Maine Legislature.