A new bill in the New York State Senate would require medical facilities, state agencies, and other institutions to notify frum organizations before proceeding with the disposition of certain unclaimed bodies.

Under the legislation, if an unclaimed deceased person is known to be of Jewish descent, these institutions would first need to determine whether such organizations are willing to assume responsibility for burial and related costs.

The bill was introduced this past week by Democratic state senator Sam Sutton, who himself is Jewish, and follows a similar law recently passed in Kentucky.

“The legislation was developed after we became aware of the Kentucky bill during discussions with some of our constituents,” Noam Abrahams, Sutton’s communications director, told JNS.

As first reported by Anash.org, the Kentucky legislation requires that before cremating an unclaimed individual, authorities must make a good-faith effort to notify Chabad or another relevant religious organization, after efforts to locate next of kin have been exhausted.

“They were changing the law in Kentucky to allow coroners to cremate bodies if they are not claimed”, Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, director of Chabad of the Bluegrass, who was a key figure behind the legislation, told Anash.org.

“Chabad stepped in, engaged directly with lawmakers, and after significant effort, state law is now going to instruct coroners to contact Chabad every time a Jewish body is unclaimed, to ensure proper kvurah.”

The bill was officially signed into law by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear last week.

Abrahams said the Kentucky legislation “served as a useful reference point as we explored how to approach this issue in New York,” adding that he believes it establishes an approach easily adapted to other states.

“Besides the religious significance, the senator believes this bill reaffirms New York’s commitment to accommodating religious practices and cultural traditions, as well as promotes clearer guidelines and consistency for institutions responsible for handling human remains,” Abrahams told JNS. “We hope this sensitivity will strengthen trust between our state’s communities of faith and public institutions. We believe the bill may also reduce public costs associated with burial or cremation.”

Rabbi Litvin called Sutton’s proposal “a living example” of the teachings of the Rebbe. “One mitzvah in one place helps a Jew across the world,” he told JNS.

The New York bill has been referred to the Senate Health Committee.