2003 Senate Bill 511 / Public Act 267

Introduced in the Senate

May 21, 2003

Introduced by Sen. Jud Gilbert (R-25)

To authorize felony penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for the failure to properly dispose of a body within a reasonable time period. This bill was introduced following a grisly 2002 incident where hundreds of discarded bodies were found unburied at a Georgia crematory.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Oct. 2, 2003

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Oct. 7, 2003

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which incorporates technical changes that do not affect the substance of the bill as previously describe.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Oct. 8, 2003

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

Received in the House

Oct. 8, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice

Dec. 10, 2003

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 16, 2003

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which applies the criminal penalties if a body is not properly disposed of after 180 days (with certain exceptions), rather than after "a reasonable time," which was thought to be too imprecise.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 108 to 0 (details)

To authorize felony penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for the failure to properly dispose of a body within 180 days, with certain exceptions. This bill was introduced following a grisly 2002 incident where hundreds of discarded bodies were found unburied at a Georgia crematory.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 17, 2003

Dec. 18, 2003

Passed in the Senate 34 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 31, 2003