Ohio Code 4717.20 – Cremation definitions
As used in sections 4717.20 to 4717.30 of the Revised Code:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4717.20
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Cremated remains: means all human or animal remains recovered after the completion of the cremation process, which may include the residue of any foreign matter such as casket material, dental work, or eyeglasses that were cremated with the human or animal remains. See Ohio Code 4717.01
- Cremation: includes processing and may include the pulverization of bone fragments. See Ohio Code 4717.01
- Crematory: means the building or portion of a building that houses the holding facility and the cremation chamber. See Ohio Code 4717.01
- Crematory facility: means the physical location at which a cremation chamber is located and the cremation process takes place. See Ohio Code 4717.01
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
(A) “Alternative container” means a receptacle, other than a casket, in which a dead human body or body parts are transported to a crematory facility and placed in the cremation chamber for cremation, and that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Is composed of readily combustible materials that are suitable for cremation;
(2) May be closed in order to provide a complete covering for the dead human body or body parts;
(3) Is resistant to leakage or spillage;
(4) Is sufficiently rigid to be handled readily;
(5) Provides protection for the health and safety of crematory personnel.
(B) “Authorizing agent” means the person or persons identified in section 4717.21 or 4717.22 of the Revised Code who are entitled to order the cremation of a decedent or body parts and to order the final disposition of the cremated remains of a decedent or body parts.
(C) “Body parts” means limbs or other portions of the anatomy that are removed from a living person for medical purposes during biopsy, treatment, or surgery. “Body parts” also includes dead human bodies that have been donated to science for purposes of medical education or research and any parts of such a dead human body that were removed for those purposes.
(D) “Burial or burial-transit permit” means a burial permit or burial-transit permit issued under section 3705.17 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state that are substantially similar to that section.
(E) “Casket” means a rigid container that is designed for the encasement of a dead human body and that is constructed of wood, metal, or another rigid material, is ornamented and lined with fabric, and may or may not be combustible.
(F) “Temporary container” means a receptacle for cremated remains composed of cardboard, plastic, metal, or another material that can be closed in a manner that prevents the leakage or spillage of the cremated remains and the entrance of foreign material, and that is of sufficient size to hold the cremated remains until they are placed in an urn or scattered.
(G) “Urn” means a receptacle designed to encase cremated remains permanently.