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Indiana House bill would legalize chemical cremation

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A bill is under consideration in the Indiana House that would legalize chemically cremating human bodies.

Republican state Rep. Jeff Thompson of Lizton wrote the legislation. It would require the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service to adopt rules for alkaline hydrolysis. The bill is now in the Public Health Committee.

Joe Wilson owns Bio-Response Solution based in Danville. His company sells chemical creation systems. He says “it’s time for Indiana to approve” the measure, which would allow an alternative to traditional flame cremation. The process is legal in 11 states.

Thompson previously introduced similar legislation in 2012 but the Journal and Courier reports the bill went nowhere.

Indiana Funeral Directors Association executive director Curtis Rostad says the organization doesn’t oppose the measure, but doesn’t support it either.