872.02 Injuring or removing tomb or monument; disturbing contents of grave or tomb; penalties.
872.03 Cremating human bodies; limitation.
872.04 Autopsies; consent required, exception.
872.05 Unmarked human burials.
872.06 Abuse of a dead human body; penalty.
872.01 Dealing in dead bodies.—Whoever buys, sells, or has in his or her possession for the purpose of buying or selling or trafficking in the dead body of any human being shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the obtaining, dissecting, using, and disposing of dead bodies for the purpose of teaching or other appropriate university research by any medical school, dental school, school of nursing, or other university research or teaching unit which is a part of a regularly established or chartered institution of higher learning under the laws of the state.
History.—s. 26, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2625; GS 3545; RGS 5446; CGL 7589; s. 1, ch. 22057, 1943; s. 1, ch. 26724, 1951; s. 1133, ch. 71-136; s. 1407, ch. 97-102.
872.02 Injuring or removing tomb or monument; disturbing contents of grave or tomb; penalties.—
(1) A person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if he or she:
(a) Willfully and knowingly destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures, or removes any tomb, monument, gravestone, burial mound, earthen or shell monument containing human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts, or other structure or thing placed or designed for a memorial of the dead, or any fence, railing, curb, or other thing intended for the protection or ornamentation of any tomb, monument, gravestone, burial mound, earthen or shell monument containing human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts, or other structure before mentioned, or for any enclosure for the burial of the dead; or
(b) Willfully destroys, mutilates, removes, cuts, breaks, or injures any tree, shrub, or plant placed or being within any such enclosure, except for a person performing routine maintenance and upkeep.
(2) A person who willfully and knowingly excavates, exposes, moves, removes, or otherwise disturbs the contents of a grave or tomb commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(3) For purposes of sentencing under chapter 921, a violation of this section committed by a person in furtherance of a riot or an aggravated riot prohibited under s. 870.01 is ranked one level above the ranking under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023 for the offense committed.
(4) This section does not apply to any person acting under the direction or authority of the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State, to cemeteries operating under chapter 497, any cemeteries removing or relocating the contents of a grave or tomb as a response to a natural disaster, or to any person otherwise authorized by law to remove or disturb a tomb, monument, gravestone, burial mound, or similar structure, or its contents, as described in subsection (1).
(5) For purposes of this section, the term “tomb” includes any mausoleum, columbarium, or belowground crypt.
(6) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), an owner, officer, employee, or agent of a cemetery exempt from regulation pursuant to s. 497.260 may relocate the contents of a grave or tomb:
(a) After receiving a written authorization from a legally authorized person as defined in s. 497.005(43); or
(b) After public notice is posted as required in this paragraph, if a legally authorized person cannot be located after conducting a reasonable search or after 75 years or more have elapsed since the date of entombment, interment, or inurnment. The public notice must be published once a week for 4 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the cemetery is located. The public notice must contain the name of the cemetery; the name, address, and telephone number of the cemetery representative with whom objections may be filed; the reason for relocation of the contents of the graves or tombs; the names of the human remains to be relocated; the approximate date of the initial entombment, interment, or inurnment; the proposed site of relocation; and the proposed date of relocation. The proposed date of relocation may not be less than 30 days from last date of publication. If no objection from a legally authorized person is received within 30 days from the last date of publication of the public notice, the cemetery may proceed with relocation.
(7) If a legally authorized person refuses to sign a written authorization, as provided in paragraph (6)(a), or if a legally authorized person objects, as provided in paragraph (6)(b), a public hearing shall be held before the county commission of the county where the cemetery is located, or the city council, if the cemetery is located in a municipality, and the county commission or the city council shall have the authority to grant a request for relocation of the contents of such graves or tombs.
History.—s. 27, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2626; GS 3546; RGS 5447; CGL 7590; s. 1134, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 84-230; s. 2, ch. 87-154; s. 1408, ch. 97-102; s. 11, ch. 98-268; s. 1, ch. 2017-40; s. 19, ch. 2021-6.
872.03 Cremating human bodies; limitation.—
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to cremate any dead human body prior to the expiration of 48 hours after the death of such human body.
(2) Anyone convicted for the violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 21780, 1943; s. 1135, ch. 71-136.
872.04 Autopsies; consent required, exception.—
(1) “Autopsy” means a postmortem dissection of a dead human body in order to determine the cause, seat, or nature of disease or injury and includes the retention of tissues customarily removed during the course of autopsy for evidentiary, identification, diagnostic, scientific, or therapeutic purposes.
(2) Unless otherwise authorized by statute, no autopsy shall be performed without the written consent by the health care surrogate, as provided in s. 765.202, if one has been designated. If a health care surrogate has not been designated, then written consent may be provided by the spouse, nearest relative, or, if no such next of kin can be found, the person who has assumed custody of the body for purposes of burial. When two or more persons assume custody of the body for such purposes, then the consent of any one of them shall be sufficient to authorize the autopsy.
(3) Any such written consent may be given by telegram, and any telegram purporting to have been sent by a person authorized to give such consent will be presumed to have been sent by such person. A duly witnessed telephone permission is acceptable in lieu of written permission in those circumstances where obtaining written permission would result in undue delay.
(4) If after diligent search and inquiry it is established by the chief law enforcement officer having jurisdiction, through his or her examination of missing persons records and other inquiry, that no person can be found who can authorize an autopsy as herein provided, then after a reasonable time, any person licensed to practice medicine under chapter 458 or osteopathic medicine under chapter 459, and whose practice involves the usual performance of autopsies, may conduct an autopsy, without written consent, on the remains for purposes of confirming medical diagnosis and suspected communicable diseases; and no cause of action will be brought against such physician for performance of such autopsy. A reasonable time for purposes of this provision shall be not less than 48 hours or more than 72 hours after death.
(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature that all human burials and human skeletal remains be accorded equal treatment and respect based upon common human dignity without reference to ethnic origin, cultural background, or religious affiliation. This section applies to all human burials, human skeletal remains, and associated burial artifacts not otherwise protected under chapter 497 or other state law and found upon or within any public or private land in the state, including submerged lands.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
(a) “Archaeologist” means a person who is registered by the Society of Professional Archaeologists with an emphasis in field research or who, in the judgment of the State Archaeologist, meets the training and experience requirements necessary for such registration.
(b) “District medical examiner” means a person appointed under s. 406.06, s. 406.15, or s. 406.17.
(c) “Division” means the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State.
(d) “Human skeletal analyst” means a person who possesses a postgraduate degree in human skeletal biology, human forensic osteology, or other related area of physical anthropology and who has a minimum of 1 year of laboratory experience in human skeletal analysis and reconstruction.
(e) “State Archaeologist” means the person employed by the division pursuant to s. 267.031(7).
(f) “Unmarked human burial” means any human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts or any location, including any burial mound or earthen or shell monument, where human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts are discovered or believed to exist on the basis of archaeological or historical evidence, excluding any burial marked or previously marked by a tomb, monument, gravestone, or other structure or thing placed or designed as a memorial of the dead.
(3) NOTIFICATION.—
(a) Any person who knows or has reason to know that an unmarked human burial is being unlawfully disturbed, destroyed, defaced, mutilated, removed, excavated, or exposed shall immediately notify the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area where the unmarked human burial is located.
(b) Any law enforcement agency that finds evidence that an unmarked human burial has been unlawfully disturbed shall notify the district medical examiner pursuant to subsection (4).
(4) DISCOVERY OF AN UNMARKED HUMAN BURIAL OTHER THAN DURING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION.—When an unmarked human burial is discovered other than during an archaeological excavation authorized by the state or an educational institution, all activity that may disturb the unmarked human burial shall cease immediately, and the district medical examiner shall be notified. Such activity shall not resume unless specifically authorized by the district medical examiner or the State Archaeologist.
(a) If the district medical examiner finds that the unmarked human burial may be involved in a legal investigation or represents the burial of an individual who has been dead less than 75 years, the district medical examiner shall assume jurisdiction over and responsibility for such unmarked human burial, and no other provisions of this section shall apply. The district medical examiner shall have 30 days after notification of the unmarked human burial to determine if he or she shall maintain jurisdiction or refer the matter to the State Archaeologist.
(b) If the district medical examiner finds that the unmarked human burial is not involved in a legal investigation and represents the burial of an individual who has been dead 75 years or more, he or she shall notify the State Archaeologist, and the division may assume jurisdiction over and responsibility for the unmarked human burial pursuant to subsection (6).
(c) When the division assumes jurisdiction over an unmarked human burial, the State Archaeologist shall consult a human skeletal analyst who shall report within 15 days as to the cultural and biological characteristics of the human skeletal remains and where such burial or remains should be held prior to a final disposition.
(5) DISCOVERY OF AN UNMARKED HUMAN BURIAL DURING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION.—
(a) When an unmarked human burial is discovered as a result of an archaeological excavation and the archaeologist finds that the unmarked human burial represents the burial of an individual who has been dead less than 75 years, the archaeologist shall notify the district medical examiner, and all activity that may disturb the unmarked human burial shall cease until the district medical examiner authorizes work to resume.
(b) If such unmarked human burial represents the burial of an individual who has been dead 75 years or more, archaeological activities may not resume until the State Archaeologist has been notified of the unmarked human burial.
(c) Within 15 days after the discovery of an unmarked human burial, the archaeologist conducting the excavation shall report to the State Archaeologist his or her opinion regarding the cultural and biological characteristics of the unmarked human burial and where human skeletal remains and associated burial artifacts should be held prior to a final disposition. The division may assume jurisdiction over and responsibility for the unmarked human burial pursuant to subsection (6).
(6) JURISDICTION; DUTIES OF THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST.—The division may assume jurisdiction over and responsibility for an unmarked human burial in order to initiate efforts for the proper protection of the burial and the human skeletal remains and associated burial artifacts. Whenever the division assumes jurisdiction over and responsibility for an unmarked human burial, the State Archaeologist shall:
(a) Determine whether the unmarked human burial is historically, archaeologically, or scientifically significant. If the burial is deemed significant, reinterment may not occur until the remains have been examined by a human skeletal analyst designated by the State Archaeologist.
(b) Make reasonable efforts to identify and locate persons who can establish direct kinship, tribal, community, or ethnic relationships with the individual or individuals whose remains constitute the unmarked human burial. If possible, the State Archaeologist shall consult with the closest related family member or recognized community leaders, if a community or ethnic relationship is established, in determining the proper disposition of the remains found in the unmarked human burial.
(c) If he or she is unable to establish a kinship, tribal, community, or ethnic relationship with the unmarked human burial, determine the proper disposition of the burial and consult with persons with relevant experience, including:
1. A human skeletal analyst.
2. Two Native American members of current state tribes recommended by the Governor’s Council on Indian Affairs, Inc., if the remains are those of a Native American.
3. Two representatives of related community or ethnic groups if the remains are not those of a Native American.
4. An individual who has special knowledge or experience regarding the particular type of the unmarked human burial.
If the State Archaeologist finds that an unmarked human burial is historically, archaeologically, or scientifically significant and if the parties with whom he or she is required under this subsection to consult agree, the human skeletal remains and the associated burial artifacts thereof shall belong to the state with title thereto vested in the division.
(7) REPORT REQUIRED.—The archaeologist and human skeletal analyst involved in the archaeological excavation and scientific analysis of an unmarked human burial shall submit a written report of archaeological and scientific findings as well as a summary of such findings, in terms that may be understood by laypersons, to the State Archaeologist within 2 years after completion of an excavation. The division shall publish the summary within 1 year after its receipt and shall make such report available upon request.
(8) PUBLIC DISPLAY.—
(a) Associated burial artifacts may be made available on loan by the division for educational purposes to institutions that have demonstrated an ability to provide safe, proper, and respectful care.
(b) The division shall develop guidelines and adopt rules regarding the public display of human remains. Such guidelines and rules shall not restrict legal, medical, or educational use of human skeletal remains, or the display of human skeletal remains in a manner not objectionable to groups with a kinship, tribal, community, or ethnic relationship to the individual whose remains are displayed.
(9) EXCAVATION NOT REQUIRED.—This section does not require excavation of an unmarked human burial unless circumstances require excavation to prevent destruction of the human skeletal remains.
(10) VIOLATION AND PENALTIES.—
(a) Any person who willfully and knowingly disturbs, destroys, removes, vandalizes, or damages an unmarked human burial is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(b) Any person who has knowledge that an unmarked human burial is being disturbed, vandalized, or damaged and fails to notify the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area where the unmarked human burial is located is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(c) This subsection shall not apply to any person acting under the direction or authority of the division or to any person otherwise authorized by law to disturb, destroy, or remove an unmarked human burial.
(11) RULES.—The Department of State may prescribe by rule procedures for reporting an unmarked human burial and for determining jurisdiction over the burial.
(a) “Female genitals” includes the labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, vulva, hymen, and vagina.
(b) “Sexual abuse” means:
1. Anal or female genital penetration of a dead human body by the sexual organ of a person or by any other object;
2. Contact or union of the penis, female genitals, or anus of a person with the mouth, penis, female genitals, or anus of a dead human body; or
3. Contact or union of a person’s mouth with the penis, female genitals, or anus of a dead human body.
(2) A person who mutilates, commits sexual abuse upon, or otherwise grossly abuses a dead human body commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Any act done for a bona fide medical purpose or for any other lawful purpose does not under any circumstance constitute a violation of this section.
