New Mexico Statutes
Article 32 - Funeral Services
Section 61-32-17 - Direct disposer; scope of practice; limitations. (Repealed effective July 1, 2024.)

A. Except as otherwise provided in the Funeral Services Act, a direct disposer may transport and dispose of a dead human body and participate in any rites or ceremonies after final disposition of the body.
B. Prior to interment, entombment or other final disposition of the body, a direct disposer shall not:
(1) participate in any rites or ceremonies in connection with the final disposition of the body;
(2) provide facilities for any such rites or ceremonies; and
(3) have the body embalmed unless embalming is required by the place of disposition.
History: 1978 Comp., § 61-32-17, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 204, § 17; 1995, ch. 158, § 2; 1999, ch. 284, § 11; 2012, ch. 48, § 14.
Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-32-31 NMSA 1978.
Repeals and reenactments. — Laws 1993, ch. 204, § 32 repealed former 61-32-17 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 185, § 17, concerning direct disposition establishment permits, and § 17 of the act enacted a new section, effective June 18, 1993.
The 2012 amendment, effective July 1, 2012, changed the name of the act and in Subsection A, after "provided in the", deleted "Thanatopractice" and added "Funeral Services".
The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, added the Subsection A designation, and in that subsection, added "Except as otherwise provided in the Thanatopractice Act", and deleted the last sentence, which read "In doing so, the direct disposer shall not conduct, direct or provide facilities for a funeral, graveside service, committal service or memorial service, whether public or private, and the body shall not be embalmed prior to the disposition unless embalming is required by the place of disposition"; and added Subsection B.
The 1995 amendment, effective April 5, 1995, substituted "conduct, direct or provide facilities for a" for "provide or participate in a" near the middle.

Structure New Mexico Statutes