As a woman in Maine, I am concerned about L.D. 1225, An Act to Provide Dignity for Fetal Remains by Requiring their Interment or Cremation.

The bill requires the final disposition resulting from abortion, miscarriage or fetal death, regardless of gestation age, through cremation or interment. It threatens a woman’s right to choice under the guise of dignity. Imagine a woman recovering from a miscarriage being forced by law to make expensive funeral plans.

This bill will pose a financial burden by constituting a de facto tax – perhaps thousands of dollars – on women and families. Individuals purchasing funeral services are uniquely vulnerable. They must make decisions about funeral arrangements during a time of grief and emotion. The average cost of a funeral in calendar year 2019 was $7,640, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Requiring women and families to bury or inter fetal remains at a time of grief and loss creates a cost. There is no legitimate public health or safety purpose for this bill.

Maine families touched by the loss of a fetus deserve control over their own decisions about disposal of remains. L.D. 1225 has a public hearing scheduled before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday at 9 a.m. I urge you to voice your opposition to this legislation.

Alison Rector
Monroe


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