07 LC
37 0287
Senate
Bill 204
By:
Senators Thomas of the 54th, Balfour of the 9th, Unterman of the 45th, Schaefer
of the 50th, Hawkins of the 49th and others
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to disposition of unclaimed dead bodies, so as to change
certain provisions relating to the board for distribution and delivery of dead
bodies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
2 of Chapter 21 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to disposition of unclaimed dead bodies, is amended by revising Code Section
31-21-20 to read as follows:
"31-21-20.
The
academic deans of medical, osteopathic medical, and dental colleges or a
representative appointed by the president of such schools incorporated under the
laws of this state or otherwise operating in this state with authorization from
the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission shall constitute the Board for
the Distribution of Cadavers to expedite the distribution and delivery of dead
bodies described in Code Section 31-21-21 to and among such institutions as are
entitled thereto. This board shall have power to establish rules and
regulations for its governance and to appoint and remove its officers and shall
keep minutes of its transactions. Records shall be kept, under its direction,
of all bodies received and distributed, both from within and without this state,
and of the persons or institutions to whom they may be distributed, which
records shall be open at all times to the inspection of members of this board,
any district attorney, or prosecuting attorney of any city or state court. The
board shall appoint a member of the board to be chairperson, and such member
shall call at least one meeting per year to carry out the responsibilities of
the board. For the purposes of this article, the term 'board' shall mean the
Board for the Distribution of Cadavers."
SECTION
2.
Said
article is further amended by revising Code Section 31-21-25 to read as
follows:
"31-21-25.
No
school or college shall be allowed or permitted to receive any body or bodies
described in Code Section 31-21-21 until a bond shall have been given to the
Department of Human
Resources
by or in behalf of the school or college by its authorized officers, to be
approved by the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the school or
college is situated and to be filed in the office of such clerk. The bond shall
be in the sum of $5,000.00 and shall be conditioned that the body or bodies
received thereafter by the school or college shall be used only in the manner
specified in this article and solely for the promotion of medical science in
this state. Actions thereon shall be in the name of the Department of Human
Resources, and any sums recovered shall be deposited in the state
treasury."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.