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Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill on decomposable cremation urns

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Sometimes legislating is a matter of life and death.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that establishes an industry-wide standard for environmentally-friendly cremation urns. Specifically, the legislation defines ‘scattering urn’ as a container of cremated remains that dissolves within four hours of being placed at sea.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) said the bill was needed because beachgoers, surfers and swimmers throughout California were finding urns that were intact or only partially dissolved.

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“AB 1777 will protect the remains of loved ones from being stranded in a vulnerable container and most importantly, it will ensure that they are peacefully laid to rest in a manner that is not only lawful, but safe for the environment,” Ma said in a statement.

According to the California Funeral Directors Assn., nearly half of Californians who die each year are cremated.

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-- Michael J. Mishak in Sacramento

Twitter.com/mjmishak

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