(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)    “Eligible dependent” means a veteran’s spouse, a veteran’s unmarried child under the age of 21 years, or a veteran’s unmarried adult child who before the age of 21 became permanently incapable of self–support because of physical or mental disability.

(3)    (i)    “Identifying information” means data required by a veterans service organization to verify the eligibility of a veteran or an eligible dependent for burial in a national or state veterans cemetery.

(ii)    “Identifying information” includes name, service number, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, place of birth, and copy of the death certificate.

(4)    “Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

(5)    “Veterans service organization” means an association or other entity organized for the benefit of veterans that has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or chartered by Congress and any employee or representative of the association or entity.

(b)    If a licensed funeral establishment or a crematory is in possession of cremated human remains that have been unclaimed for 90 days or more, the licensed funeral establishment or holder of the permit for the business of operating a crematory shall provide identifying information of the unclaimed cremains to a veterans service organization in order for the veterans service organization to determine if the unclaimed cremains are those of a veteran or an eligible dependent.

(c)    Within 45 days after receipt of the information required by subsection (b) of this section, the veterans service organization shall notify the licensed funeral establishment or permit holder:

(1)    whether the cremains are those of a veteran or an eligible dependent; and

(2)    if so, whether the veteran or eligible dependent is eligible for burial in a veterans cemetery.

(d)    If the unclaimed cremains are those of a veteran or an eligible dependent, the licensed funeral establishment or permit holder may transfer the cremains to a veterans service organization for the purpose of disposition of the cremains.