§ 25:952 — Legislative findings and declaration of intent

§952. Legislative findings and declaration of intent
The legislature hereby finds that Louisiana law has never permitted, recognized, or
sanctioned ownership rights in human remains and that such materials are explicitly
exempted from property concepts under both common and civil law. The legislature further
finds that the trade in or commodification of human remains fosters the looting and
desecration of cemeteries and other sacred sites. The legislature further finds that existing
state laws do not adequately protect against the illicit trade in human remains and that such
trade needs to be stemmed in order to minimize looting and desecration of cemeteries. The
legislature also finds and declares that there is a need for a central state entity to manage the
enforcement of human remains laws and that, because the attorney general is already the
statutory counsel to the Louisiana Cemetery Board, as well as being charged with civil
enforcement of the Louisiana Unmarked Human Burial Sites Preservation Act and the
Louisiana Historic Cemetery Preservation Act, the attorney general is uniquely qualified to
enforce and police all illicit transactions in and commodification of human remains
contemplated by this Chapter.

Legislative History

Acts 2016, No. 531, §1, eff. June 17, 2016.