Chain of Custody and the Illinois Integrity in Death Care Act
On August 9, 2024, a new bill was passed in Illinois called the Integrity in Death Care Act. It amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, adding new requirements that could significantly impact our industry—especially if you don’t already have policies or procedures in place that comply.
Among these requirements is a chain of custody paired with unique identifiers. The goal of these changes is to ensure that all human remains are treated with dignity and respect by tracking their journey to final disposition.
In this article, we hope to clarify any questions you may have about the Integrity in Death Care Act, chain of custody and how to select an experienced and capable partner to provide you with the tools to comply by January 2025.
What is the Integrity in Death Care Act?
The Integrity in Death Care Act or IL SB2643 is an Illinois law introduced in November 2023 by Illinois Senator Doris Turner.
Turner is quoted saying, “After months of discussions regarding the death care industry, it was clear the status quo wasn’t working. Families who lost loved ones experienced what no one ever thought was possible—receiving the wrong remains. It’s past time that we hold bad actors accountable.”
The law received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker on August 9, 2024. It goes into full effect on January 1, 2025.
What Changes Does the Integrity in Death Care Act Make?
Funeral establishments and crematory authorities will be required to maintain detailed chain of custody records linked to a decedent’s unique identifier.
The goal is to ensure that all remains are tracked with care and consistency, giving families peace of mind and preventing the inexcusable mishaps we’ve seen from the bad actors Turner mentions.
If a complaint is lodged against a licensee, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is required to inspect the premises within 10 days of receiving the complaint.
What is the Chain of Custody?
“Chain of custody” is a term used across many industries. Essentially, it is the process of following a material through the entire supply chain—from beginning to end. Definitions like these can feel somewhat crude in our industry, where the situation is much more tender.
In death care, the chain of custody is even more sensitive. It follows the decedent from the moment the funeral service provider collects the body through final disposition.
The goal of a chain of custody is to prevent the misidentification or misplacement of human remains.
How Should Funeral Professionals Handle These Changes?
The Bill does not prescribe exactly how funeral professionals should implement the chain of custody and new unique identifiers. However, at Halcyon, we have two suggestions built on years of experience in the field doing this work.
- Choose an established, experienced partner.
When industry disruptions occur, you’re likely to see opportunistic businesses crop up in response to these changes, especially if they provide similar services to other industries.
When you select a partner, we strongly encourage you to choose a business that has experience with death care. Our industry has nuances and cultural standards that can’t be learned in a day. Select a partner that understands your business and your needs.
- Opt for QR-code tracking.
Many barcode-based systems require costly scanning guns and other equipment to support them. QR-based tracking is much more robust, offering improved scannability, durability, security, and storage capacity. QR codes are overall easier to use and manage—and they can be used with a tablet or smartphone.
Choose Halcyon Body Tracking Software
In a constantly changing regulatory landscape, you need a partner that can support your growing needs and ensure you comply with ever-changing regulations. Halcyon’s body tracking software meets Illinois’ new requirements for chain of custody, ensuring you stay compliant without major headaches or unwieldy manual processes.
Over the years, Halcyon has worked extensively to refine our body-tracking processes, delivering incredible efficiency to partners across the country. We’ve successfully used QR-driven body tracking since 2017—much longer than any other partner you could choose. That’s experience you can count on.
Halcyon is more than a chain of custody tracking service. We’re the company that can bring all your services and management needs together in one place. Imagine us as the hub for all your business needs—connecting, supporting and integrating all the tools you use.
Our comprehensive onboarding process makes getting started seamless. For most businesses, you can be set up and ready to go in less than 48 hours. And our in-house customer service team is there throughout the process for onboarding and ongoing training.
Don’t wait until January to get started. Schedule a demo today to see why Halcyon is the partner you need to support you through the Integrity in Death Care Act and beyond.