Chapter 1 - Definitions

California Health and Safety Code — §§ 7000-7025

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Sections (41)

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 571, Sec. 31. (SB 1480) Effective January 1, 2019.

The definitions in this chapter apply to this division, Division 8 (commencing with Section 8100) and Division 102 (commencing with Section 102100) of this code and Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 7600) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.

§ 7001

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 399, Sec. 28. (AB 351) Effective January 1, 2023.

“Human remains” or “remains” means the body of a deceased person, regardless of its stage of decomposition, and includes cremated, reduced, or hydrolyzed human remains.

§ 7002

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 436, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002.

“Cremated remains” means the ashes and bone fragments of a human body that are left after cremation in a crematory, and includes ashes from the cremation container. “Cremation remains” does not include foreign materials, pacemakers, or prostheses.

§ 7002.5

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 27. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Hydrolyzed human remains” means bone fragments of a human body that are left after hydrolysis in a hydrolysis facility. “Hydrolyzed human remains” does not include foreign materials, pacemakers, or prostheses.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7002.7

Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 399, Sec. 29. (AB 351) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)“Reduction facility” means a structure, room, or other space in a building or real property where natural, organic reduction of a human body occurs.

(b)“Reduced human remains” means the remains of a human body that have been reduced to soil through a process of reduction. “Reduced human remains” does not include foreign materials, pacemakers, or prostheses.

(c)“Reduction” means the process of transforming a human body into soil using the natural decomposition process, accelerated with the addition of organic materials through the following steps:

(1)The body of a deceased person is mixed together with natural materials and air and is periodically turned, eventually resulting in the body’s reduction to a soil material.

(2)Large tanks, containers, or similar vessels hold human remains together with straw, wood chips, or other natural materials until the process is complete.

(3)The processing of the remains after removal from the reduction chamber pursuant to Section 7010.3.

(d)“Reduction chamber” means the enclosed space within which individual human remains are reduced and any other attached, nonenclosed, mechanical components that are necessary for the safe and proper functioning of the equipment. A reduction chamber shall meet or exceed the

requirements set by the State Department of Public Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for destruction of human pathogens, including complying with Section 7714.3.

(e)“Reduced human remains container” means a receptacle into which human remains are placed after reduction.

§ 7003

Repealed (in Sec. 28) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 29. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Cemetery” means either of the following:

(1)Any of the following that is used or intended to be used and dedicated for cemetery purposes:

(A)A burial park, for earth interments.

(B)A mausoleum, for crypt or vault interments.

(C)A crematory and columbarium, for interment of cremated remains or hydrolyzed human remains.

(2)A place where six or more human bodies are buried.

(b)This section shall

become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7004

Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 60.

“Burial park” means a tract of land for the burial of human remains in the ground, used or intended to be used, and dedicated, for cemetery purposes.

§ 7005

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 436, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2002.

Except in Part 5 (commencing with Section 9501) of Division 8, “mausoleum” means a structure or building for the entombment of human remains in crypts or vaults in a place used, or intended to be used, and dedicated, for cemetery purposes.

§ 7006

Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 60.

“Crematory” means a building or structure containing one or more furnaces for the reduction of bodies of deceased persons to cremated remains.

§ 7006.1

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 30. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Hydrolysis facility” means a building or structure containing one or more chambers for the reduction of bodies of deceased persons by alkaline hydrolysis.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7006.3

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1232, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1994.

“Cremation chamber” means the enclosed space within which the cremation of human remains is performed.

§ 7006.4

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 31. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Hydrolysis chamber” means the enclosed space within which the hydrolysis of human remains is performed and any other attached, nonenclosed, mechanical components that are necessary for the safe and proper functioning of the equipment. Allowable hydrolysis chambers for the disposition of human remains shall meet or exceed State Department of Public Health and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements applicable for destruction of human pathogens, specified in the hydrolysis chamber approval issued pursuant to Section 7639.08 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7006.5

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1232, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1994.

“Cremation container” means a combustible, closed container resistant to leakage of bodily fluids into which the body of a deceased person is placed prior to insertion in a cremation chamber for cremation.

§ 7006.6

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 32. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Hydrolysis container” means a hydrolyzable body wrapping into which the body of a deceased person is placed prior to insertion into a hydrolysis chamber. The wrapping must consist of 100-percent protein-based material, such as silk, suede, leather, feather, fur, or wool.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7006.7

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1232, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1994.

“Cremated remains container” means a receptacle in which cremated remains are placed after cremation.

§ 7006.8

Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 846, Sec. 33. (AB 967) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)“Hydrolyzed human remains container” means a receptacle in which hydrolyzed human remains are placed after hydrolysis.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.

§ 7007

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 436, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2002.

Except in Part 5 (commencing with Section 9501) of Division 8, “columbarium” means a structure, room, or other space in a building or structure containing niches for inurnment of cremated human remains in a place used, or intended to be used, and dedicated, for cemetery purposes.

§ 7008

Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 60.

“Crematory and columbarium” means a building or structure containing both a crematory and columbarium.

§ 7009

Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1232, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1994.

“Interment” means the disposition of human remains by entombment or burial in a cemetery or, in the case of cremated remains, by inurnment, placement or burial in a cemetery, or burial at sea as provided in Section 7117.

§ 7010

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 436, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2002.

“Cremation” means the process by which the following three steps are taken:

(a)The reduction of the body of a deceased human to its essential elements by incineration.

(b)The repositioning or moving of the body or remains during incineration to facilitate the process.

(c)The processing of the remains after removal from the cremation chamber pursuant to Section 7010.3.

§ 7010.1

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§ 7010.3

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§ 7010.5

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