An Act To Ensure Proper Anatomical Recovery of Human Bodies and Body Parts
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0123
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CRAVEN, KRUGER, CLEVELAND, GRATWICK, HASKELL, SAVIELLO, LAJOIE, NELSON

Legislative Document 
No. 123 
S.P. 44 
In Senate, January 29, 2013 
An Act To Ensure Proper Anatomical Recovery of Human Bodies 
and Body Parts 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative KRUGER of Thomaston and 
Senators: CLEVELAND of Androscoggin, GRATWICK of Penobscot, HASKELL of 
Cumberland, SAVIELLO of Franklin, Representatives: LAJOIE of Lewiston, NELSON of 
Falmouth. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 710-C is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 710-C 
ANATOMICAL RECOVERY ORGANIZATION ACT 
§2971.  Short title 
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Anatomical Recovery Organization 
Act." 
§2972.  Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1.  Anatomical recovery.  "Anatomical recovery" means the recovery, processing or 
transfer of a body or body part that was donated in the State pursuant to chapter 710-B for 
the purposes of transplantation, therapy, research or education.  "Anatomical recovery" 
does not include actions taken by the Chief Medical Examiner in the performance of the 
duties of the Chief Medical Examiner or the process for obtaining consent for an 
anatomical gift pursuant to chapter 710-B. 
2.  Anatomical recovery organization.  "Anatomical recovery organization" means 
a nonprofit corporation that is engaged in anatomical recovery.  "Anatomical recovery 
organization" does not include a hospital or an institution of higher education in this State 
that recovers a body or body part for its own use in transplantation, therapy, research or 
education and does not transfer the human body or body part to another person or entity. 
3.  Body or body part.  "Body" or "body part" means a human body or an organ, 
tissue, eye, bone, blood vessel and other body part of a human body.  "Body part" does 
not include blood except for blood that is donated for the purposes of research. 
4.  Chief Medical Examiner.  "Chief Medical Examiner" has the same meaning as in 
section 2942, subsection 3. 
5.  Institution of higher education.  "Institution of higher education" means a 
college or university located in the State that is accredited and approved for the granting 
of degrees at the postsecondary level by the Commissioner of Education. 
§2973.  Requirement of registration as an anatomical recovery organization 
A person or entity that performs anatomical recovery in this State shall register with 
the department as an anatomical recovery organization and comply with all requirements 
imposed by rule adopted pursuant to section 2975.  A person or entity that violates the 
requirements of this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than 
$1,000 may be adjudged.  A person or entity that violates this section after having been 
previously adjudicated as violating this section within the previous 5 years commits a 
civil violation for which a fine of not more than $5,000 may be adjudged. 
§2974.  Records; contract requirements 
An anatomical recovery organization shall maintain records of the receipt, use,  
processing, transplantation, transfer and disposal of all bodies and body parts.  The 
records must document all donations pursuant to chapter 710-B, transfers and disposal of 
bodies and body parts.  If the anatomical recovery organization transfers a body or body 
part to another person or entity, the anatomical recovery organization shall by contract 
require the receiving person or entity to report to the anatomical recovery organization in 
a timely manner on the receipt, use, processing, transplantation, transfer and disposal of 
all bodies and body parts received from the anatomical recovery organization. 
§2975.  Rulemaking 
The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.  The rules must include 
but are not limited to rules regarding duration of registration of an anatomical recovery 
organization, registration fees, maintenance of records, inspection of records and the 
premises of an anatomical recovery organization by the department, qualifications of 
staff, documentation of consent to donation of all bodies and body parts, documentation 
of the persons or entities from which anatomical recovery organizations accept bodies 
and body parts, documentation of all transfers of bodies and body parts to other persons 
or entities and the use and disposal of the bodies and body parts and procedures for 
correction of deficiencies and revocation of registration.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill enacts the Anatomical Recovery Organization Act to require a person or 
entity that performs anatomical recovery in this State to register as an anatomical 
recovery organization.  The bill provides penalties for performing anatomical recovery 
without having registered.  The bill requires records to be kept on the receipt, use, 
processing, transplantation, transfer and disposal of all human bodies and body parts.  
The bill authorizes the department to adopt routine technical rules to implement the 
chapter.