LRB-2897/1
SWB:amn
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
May 4, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Wanggaard and Olsen, cosponsored by
Representatives Hutton, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Kitchens, Kooyenga,
Kremer, Sanfelippo, Spiros and Thiesfeldt. Referred to Committee on
Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB230,1,5 1An Act to renumber and amend 157.02 (1); to amend 157.02 (2), 157.02 (5),
2301.325, 302.14, 973.20 (11) (c) and 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.); and to create 157.02
3(1) (a) and 157.02 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes; relating to: burial or cremation and
4burial of a deceased prison inmate, cremation of an unclaimed corpse, and
5prohibition on cremation of an unclaimed corpse in cases of homicide.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill changes procedures relating to burial or cremation and burial of a
deceased prison inmate and cremation of an unclaimed corpse. Under the bill, the
Department of Corrections must provide written notification to a deceased inmate's
relative informing him or her that DOC will, upon request, provide a copy of any
autopsy report or other report regarding the inmate's death and allow the relative
to claim the cremated remains of the inmate before the remains are buried. With
certain exceptions, the bill allows the superintendent of an institution or other public
officer to cremate and bury an unclaimed corpse. The bill prohibits cremation of an
unclaimed corpse if the deceased person died as a result of homicide.
The bill also adds an express allowance for DOC to charge a prisoner's estate
for some or all of the costs to the department of the prisoner's incarceration or burial
or cremation and burial. Under the bill, if an inmate in a state prison has not paid
court-ordered restitution at the time of his or her death, DOC is required to assess,
collect, and disburse the amount owed from the inmate's wages or other moneys.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB230,1 1Section 1. 157.02 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 157.02 (1) (am) and
2amended to read:
SB230,2,83 157.02 (1) (am) When an inmate of any state, county or municipal institution
4dies, the superintendent or other person in charge of the institution shall
5immediately notify a relative of the decedent. A public officer having the possession
6or the disposition of a corpse shall immediately notify a relative of the decedent. If
7no relative is known, or discoverable by use of ordinary diligence, notice may be
8dispensed with. In addition, if
SB230,2,12 9(b) If the deceased had been an inmate of a state correctional institution, the
10department of corrections shall provide written notification to the relative informing
11him or her that the department of corrections, upon request, will provide do any or
12all of the following:
SB230,2,14 131. Provide a copy of any autopsy report or other report or information
14pertaining to the death.
SB230,2,16 15(c) The department of corrections shall describe how the request requests
16under par. (b) may be made and shall promptly comply with any such request.
SB230,2 17Section 2. 157.02 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB230,2,1818 157.02 (1) (a) In this section, “burial" has the meaning given in s. 157.061 (1).
SB230,3 19Section 3. 157.02 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB230,2,2120 157.02 (1) (b) 2. Allow the relative to claim the cremated remains of the inmate
21before burial of the remains.
SB230,4
1Section 4. 157.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,3,72 157.02 (2) Time allowed relative to act. If a relative or friend fails to arrange
3for taking charge of the corpse within a reasonable time after death, the
4superintendent or other officer may proceed as provided in this section, but relatives
5or friends may claim the corpse at any time before it has been delivered pursuant to
6sub. (3) or, if a request is made under sub. (1) (b) 2., after it has been cremated but
7before burial of the cremated remains under sub. (5)
.
SB230,5 8Section 5. 157.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,3,119 157.02 (5) Other disposition. If the corpse is not disposed of under subs. (1)
10to (4), the superintendent or public officer shall properly bury it , or cremate it, subject
11to s. 979.10, and bury the cremated remains
.
SB230,6 12Section 6 . 301.325 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,4,2 13301.325 Prisoner reimbursement to the state. The department may
14charge a prisoner or a prisoner's estate for some or all of the costs to the department
15of the prisoner's incarceration or burial or cremation and burial under s. 157.02 (5).
16The department may collect from the inmate or his or her estate during his or her
17incarceration or after his or her release or death, or both. If the prisoner has paid
18all victim restitution ordered under s. 973.20 or if the department has collected
19victim restitution pursuant to s. 973.20 (11) (c), the department may use any
20remaining money held for a prisoner under s. 301.32 (1) to pay for some or all of the
21costs to the department for the prisoner's burial or cremation and burial under s.
22157.02 (5).
Upon the request of the department, the attorney general may bring a
23civil action to recover costs under this section that the department has been unable
24to collect. The department may not recover under this section for any costs already
25recovered as otherwise provided in chs. 301 to 303. The department shall promulgate

1rules providing a method of charging under this section that is based on a prisoner's
2ability to pay and providing procedures for collection of the costs.
SB230,7 3Section 7. 302.14 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,4,13 4302.14 Property of deceased inmates, parolees, probationers or
5persons on extended supervision, disposition.
When an inmate of a prison, a
6parolee of an institution, a person on extended supervision or a person on probation
7to the department dies leaving an estate, after paying all costs and obligations under
8ss. 301.32 and 301.325,
of $150 or less in the trust of the warden, superintendent or
9secretary, the warden, superintendent or secretary shall try to determine whether
10or not the estate is to be probated. If probate proceedings are not commenced within
1190 days, the warden, superintendent or secretary shall turn over the money or
12securities to the nearest of kin as evidenced by the records of the institution and the
13department.
SB230,8 14Section 8. 973.20 (11) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,4,2215 973.20 (11) (c) If a defendant who is in a state prison or who is sentenced to a
16state prison is ordered to pay restitution, the court order shall require the defendant
17to authorize the department to collect, from the defendant's wages and from other
18moneys held in the defendant's prisoner's account, an amount or a percentage the
19department determines is reasonable for payment to victims. If an inmate in a state
20prison or a person sentenced to a state prison has not paid, at the time of his or her
21death, restitution ordered under this section, the department shall assess, collect,
22and disburse the amount owed from the inmate's wages or other moneys.
SB230,9 23Section 9. 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB230,5,424 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) No person may cremate the corpse of a deceased person
25within 48 hours after the death, or the discovery of the death, of the deceased person

1unless the death was caused by a contagious or infectious disease. Notwithstanding
2s. 979.09, no person may cremate an unclaimed corpse if the deceased person died
3as the result of homicide.
No person may cremate a corpse unless the person has
4received a cremation permit from:
SB230,5,55 (End)
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