OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington families facing financial difficulties are having to leave their family members dead bodies unclaimed according to statewide mortuary and funeral services.
House Bill 1974, that has reached the Washington State Senate, aims to alter the duration for which unclaimed bodies are held in cooler storage.
Lawmakers are seeking to reduce the storage time from the current 90-day period to a more manageable 45 days.
The bill specifically addresses situations in which families fail to provide instructions for the disposal of the deceased.
This proposed change is expected to offer mortuary services dealing with unclaimed bodies a practical solution, particularly in smaller facilities with limited storage and staff that are directly facing this growing problem.
