34-25-38.1. Issuance of disinterment permit. A disinterment permit shall be issued by the department upon receipt of a written or electronic application from a person licensed by the State Board of Funeral Service or upon receipt of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the disinterment. If the disinterment is not directed pursuant to a court order, the department may not issue a disinterment permit without the written consent of the surviving spouse, or in the case of a spouse's absence, death, or incapacity, the next of kin within the same degree of kinship. In the case of a minor, if the disinterment is not directed pursuant to a court order, the department may not issue a disinterment permit for the minor without the written consent of the surviving parents. The Department of Health may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to establish the process for issuing a disinterment permit that is not directed pursuant to a court order. The disinterment permit becomes effective as provided in this section. Unless the disinterment permit was issued as the result of a court order, the department shall, upon issuance of the disinterment permit, notify the affected cemetery board of directors appointed pursuant to § 7-26-7 or 9-12-18 or the board of county commissioners of the county in which the disinterment is to occur, or in the case of a disinterment for an enrolled tribal member, the tribal chairperson on the issuance of the permit. The cemetery board of directors, the board of county commissioners, or the tribal chairperson may request the circuit court to prevent the disinterment. The disinterment permit shall take effect within fifteen days after its issuance unless the circuit court has ordered otherwise. The disinterment permit authorizes disinterment, transportation, and reinterment of a dead body or fetus. Authorities in charge of a cemetery may not transfer bodies buried in one part of the cemetery to another part without the authority of a disinterment permit.

Source: SL 1996, ch 215, § 2; SL 2003, ch 186, § 7; SL 2009, ch 168, § 1; SL 2018, ch 206, § 1.