HB 1750 — An Act providing for disclosure of cremation services for deceased animals, for distribution and certification, for required notices, for holding facility standards, for recordkeeping requirements and for enforcement; and imposing penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   2155

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        HOUSE BILL
                        No. 1750
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, BENHAM, BERNSTINE, STEELE, SANCHEZ,
        FRANKEL, PROBST, INGLIS, CONKLIN AND CIRESI, JULY 17, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 21, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Providing for disclosure of cremation services for deceased
 2      animals, for distribution and certification, for required
 3      notices, for holding facility standards, for recordkeeping
 4      requirements, and for enforcement; and imposing penalties.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7   Section 1.   Short title.
 8      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Companion
 9   Animal Cremation Consumer Protection Act.
10   Section 2.   Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      "Animal."   A deceased animal that had a companion or pet
15   relationship with its owner at the time of the animal's death.
16      "Cremated remains."      The material remaining after the
17   cremation of an animal, which may include bone fragments and
18   residue resulting from the cremation process, and which may be
19   pulverized or otherwise processed by the cremation provider.
 1      "Funeral director."     A licensed funeral director as defined
 2   in 49 Pa. Code § 13.1 (relating to definitions).
 3      "Holding facility."     An area designated for the retention of
 4   animal remains prior to cremation that meets the standards under
 5   section 6.
 6      "Pet shop."     A person or facility that offers animals for
 7   sale on a retail basis to be kept as household companions or
 8   pets.
 9      "Provider."     A person or entity that engages in the business
10   of cremating deceased animals in this Commonwealth.
11      "Veterinarian."     An individual licensed to practice
12   veterinary medicine and surgery under the laws of this
13   Commonwealth or another state.
14   Section 3.     Disclosure of cremation services.
15      (a)   Description.--A provider shall furnish a written
16   description of available cremation services, without charge, to
17   each of the following:
18            (1)   The owner of a deceased animal, or another person
19      acting on the owner's behalf, who arranges for cremation
20      services.
21            (2)   A veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other
22      person who refers animal owners or delivers deceased animals
23      to the provider more than five times in a calendar year.
24            (3)   The Department of Agriculture.
25            (4)   Any other person upon request.
26      (b)   Form and content.--The written description of services
27   shall:
28            (1)   be provided in printed form, such as a brochure;
29            (2)   be available in quantities sufficient to allow for
30      distribution to animal owners referred or served by the

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 1      provider; and
 2            (3)   contain a detailed and clear explanation of each
 3      cremation service offered.
 4      (c)   Prohibited content.--The written description of services
 5   may not contain information that is unclear or misleading. A
 6   description is misleading if the description:
 7            (1)   fails to include a complete and accurate explanation
 8      of each cremation service or omits a required disclosure
 9      under this act; or
10            (2)   includes text, illustrations, layout or formatting
11      that causes confusion about the nature of the services or
12      obstructs important disclosures.
13   Section 4.     Distribution and certification.
14      (a)   Distribution by intermediaries.--A veterinarian, pet
15   shop, funeral director or other person who refers animal owners
16   or accepts deceased animals for cremation more than five times
17   in a calendar year shall provide a copy of the provider's
18   written description of services to the animal owner, or to a
19   person acting on the owner's behalf, at the time of referral or
20   acceptance.
21      (b)   Timing of distribution.--A copy of the provider's
22   written description of services shall be given to the animal
23   owner, or to a person acting on the owner's behalf, at the time
24   cremation services are authorized.
25      (c)   Certification by provider.--If cremation services
26   include the return of cremated remains, the provider shall
27   include with the returned cremated remains a certification
28   stating that, to the best of the provider's knowledge and
29   belief, and except as otherwise indicated on the certificate,
30   the cremation and related services were performed in accordance

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 1   with the provider's written description of services.
 2      (d)   Certification by intermediary.--If a veterinarian, pet
 3   shop, funeral director or other person is responsible for
 4   returning cremated remains to the animal owner, the
 5   veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other person shall
 6   provide all of the following:
 7            (1)   The provider's certification under subsection (c).
 8            (2)   A second certification stating that, to the best of
 9      the intermediary's knowledge and belief, and except as
10      otherwise indicated on the certificate, the returned remains
11      are those of the animal owner's deceased animal and were
12      returned in accordance with the provider's representations.
13      (e)   Reliance on documentation.--A veterinarian, pet shop,
14   funeral director or other person subject to subsection (d) may
15   rely in good faith on the documentation and representations
16   provided by the provider and is not required to observe the
17   cremation process.
18   Section 5.     Required notices.
19      (a)   Written notice of rights.--At the time the written
20   description of services is provided under section 3 or 4, the
21   provider or intermediary shall furnish to the animal owner, or
22   to a person acting on the owner's behalf, a written notice
23   specifying the rights provided under this act. The notice shall
24   include the following statement, presented in a clear and
25   conspicuous manner:
26            THIS DISCLOSURE OF RIGHTS IS A SUMMARY OF PENNSYLVANIA
27            LAW. THE ACTUAL PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ARE SET FORTH IN
28            THE COMPANION ANIMAL CREMATION CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT.
29      (b)   Posted summary.--A summary of the provisions of this act
30   shall be conspicuously posted at each place of business of a

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 1   provider, veterinarian, pet shop, funeral director or other
 2   person subject to this act. The summary shall also state that
 3   the provider's written description of services is available upon
 4   request.
 5      (c)     Mandatory disclosures.--The written description of
 6   services provided under section 3 or 4 shall include all of the
 7   following:
 8            (1)   A clear explanation of each cremation option
 9      offered, including the following:
10                  (i)    Private cremation explained as the cremation of
11            a single animal in a clean, empty chamber, with the
12            cremated remains returned exclusively to the owner.
13                  (ii)    Individual-partitioned cremation explained as
14            the cremation of multiple animals in the same chamber
15            using physical barriers or designated spaces to maintain
16            separation, with cremated remains returned to each owner.
17                  (iii)   Communal cremation explained as the cremation
18            of multiple animals simultaneously in a single chamber
19            without separation. No cremated remains are returned to
20            the owner.
21            (2)   The date the cremation was completed.
22            (3)   A statement that the cremation was conducted in
23      accordance with prevailing industry standards or best
24      practices and in compliance with applicable Federal and State
25      public health laws.
26   Section 6.     Holding facility standards.
27      (a)     Duty of providers.--A provider shall ensure that a
28   holding facility used to retain the remains of animals prior to
29   cremation complies with the standards specified under subsection
30   (b).

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 1      (b)   Standards.--A holding facility shall meet all of the
 2   following standards:
 3            (1)   Protect the health of personnel responsible for
 4      handling animal remains and comply with applicable Federal
 5      and State public health laws.
 6            (2)   Preserve the dignity of the animal remains.
 7   Section 7.     Recordkeeping requirements.
 8      (a)   Records required.--A provider shall maintain complete
 9   and accurate records for each cremation performed. The records
10   shall be retained for a period of not less than five years and
11   shall include all of the following:
12            (1)   A cremation authorization form signed by the animal
13      owner or by a person authorized to act on the owner's behalf.
14            (2)   Identification records, including tags, labels or
15      tracking documentation used to identify the cremated remains.
16            (3)   A cremation service log documenting the date of
17      cremation, the method of cremation and the name of the
18      operator or entity that performed the cremation.
19      (b)   Confidentiality.--A provider shall implement and
20   maintain reasonable procedures to ensure the confidentiality and
21   security of client records, including personally identifying
22   information related to the animal owner or the deceased animal.
23   Section 8.     Enforcement and penalties.
24      (a)   Authority of Attorney General.--A violation of this act
25   shall constitute a violation of the act of December 17, 1968
26   (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and
27   Consumer Protection Law. The Office of Attorney General shall
28   have all powers and duties under that act necessary to enforce
29   this act.
30      (b)   Prohibited conduct.--A person may not engage in any of

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 1   the following:
 2             (1)   Prepare or distribute a written description of
 3      services that the person knows or reasonably should know is
 4      false, misleading or otherwise not in compliance with this
 5      act.
 6             (2)   Intentionally fail to provide a written description
 7      of services, notice of rights or certification as required
 8      under this act.
 9             (3)   Knowingly make a false certification under section
10      4.
11             (4)   Violate the holding facility standards under section
12      6.
13             (5)   Fail to maintain or secure records as required under
14      section 7.
15      (c)    Licensure consequences.--If a person required to be
16   licensed or certified by a Commonwealth agency commits a
17   violation of this act, the appropriate licensing board or
18   licensing commission or regulatory authority may suspend, revoke
19   or impose conditions on the person's license or certification,
20   in accordance with applicable State law.
21      (d)    Written warning.--The Office of Attorney General may
22   issue a written warning letter to any person engaged in a
23   violation of this act.
24   Section 9.      Effective date.
25      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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