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SB 1067

Occupations: mortuary science; references to article 18 of the occupational code in the public health code; revise. Amends secs. 2843 & 10205 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.2843 & 333.10205). TIE BAR WITH: SB 1060'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Hertel and 2 co-sponsors

Ties death reporting and medical certification to specific timelines and approved facilities for organ/tissue removal, tightening standards and penalties.

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON REGULATORY AFFAIRS
#cemeteriesandfunerals:other #occupations:mortuaryscience
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Bill Summary · SB 1067

Overview

SB 1067 (2025-2026, Michigan) is a targeted amendment to the Public Health Code that ties to SB 1060. It revises sections 2843 and 10205 of 1978 PA 368 to address death reporting, medical certification, and the authorized locations for certain organ/tissue removal procedures. The bill’s enactment is contingent on SB 1060 becoming law.

Main purpose and intent

  • Update and clarify requirements around death reporting and medical certification when a body is received by a funeral director.
  • Specify permissible facilities and conditions for surgically removing certain human organs or tissues for transplantation or related purposes.
  • Enhance privacy protections for certain infant deaths and ensure correct handling of “Baby Doe” cases.

Key provisions

Section 2843 (death reporting and certification)

  • A funeral director who first assumes custody of a dead body (directly or via an authorized agent) must report the death and obtain necessary personal data from the next of kin or best available source.
  • Medical certification timelines:
    • For deaths outside an institution: the medical certification portion must be completed and certified within 48 hours after death by the attending physician (or appropriate substitutes, including county medical examiner or county health officer/deputy medical examiner if no attending physician).
    • For deaths in an institution: the medical certification must be completed within 48 hours after death by the attending physician, or by an authorized representative, or by the chief medical officer or a pathologist after reviewing records.
  • Penalties: A physician who certifies improperly or refuses to certify or furnish information may be guilty of a misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail; fines $25–$100, or both).
  • Death certificate requirements: A death record must be certified by a licensed funeral director (under Michigan’s mortuary science licensing) or a courtesy license holder, and filed with the local registrar within 72 hours of death.
  • Special handling for certain infants: If an infant born alive following an attempted abortion and surrendered under safe-delivery laws dies, the case must be reported with restrictions: the infant is listed as “Baby Doe,” and identifying information about the mother, father, or informants must not be reported.

Section 10205 (organs, tissues, and facility designation)

  • General rule: Organ removal for transplantation/related purposes must occur in approved facilities, including:
    • Hospital licensed under Article 17.
    • A facility approved by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Director.
    • A facility operated by a federally designated organ procurement organization in Michigan.
  • Specific provision for tissues/eye removal: Removal of tissue, cornea, or a whole eye must occur in:
    • A mortuary that is part of a funeral establishment licensed for mortuary science, or
    • A morgue or facility operated by a county medical examiner.
  • Exceptions: Licensed allopathic/osteopathic physicians performing biopsies or routine tissue removal in private practice or licensed health facilities are exempt when not for transplantation or infusion.
  • Regulatory delegation: LARA may designate one or more approved facilities for the specified category.
  • Penalty: Violations of these subsections constitute a felony.

Who/what would be affected

  • Funeral directors (and their licensed agents) responsible for death reporting and medical certification.
  • Physicians (attending and sometimes chief medical officers/pathologists) who certify death records.
  • Mortuary science license holders and their establishments (as facilities for certain organ/tissue removals).
  • Counties’ medical examiners, county health officers, and morgues involved in death investigations.
  • Health regulators (LARA) tasked with approving designated facilities for organ removal procedures.
  • Families and privacy considerations in infant “Baby Doe” cases.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Death certification deadlines: 48 hours after death for both in- and out-of-hospital deaths, with specific roles for attending physicians and designated officials.
  • Filing deadline for death certificates: within 72 hours of death.
  • Penalties established for non-compliance or improper certification.
  • Enactment condition: bill takes effect only if SB 1060 is enacted.

Potential impact

  • Tightens and standardizes death certification and reporting workflows.
  • Expands or clarifies permissible settings for organ/tissue removal operations, potentially affecting funeral homes, mortuaries, morgues, and organ procurement processes.
  • Increases privacy protections in certain infant death cases.
  • Introduces penalties to enforce timely certification and reporting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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