New Mexico Statutes Chapter 61. Professional and Occupational Licenses § 61-32-19.1. Crematory; scope of practice; limitations

A. The scope of practice of a crematory and its crematory authority is limited to cremation of dead human bodies and pulverization of cremains. A crematory and its crematory authority shall act as an agent of licensed funeral, commercial or direct disposition establishments and schools of medicine. A crematory and its crematory authority may:

B. After completion of the cremation process, if a crematory and its crematory authority have not been instructed by its agent to return the cremains to the person that initiated the cremation services contract or to arrange for the interment, entombment or ennichement of the cremains, the crematory authority shall return, or cause to be returned, the cremains to the establishment no later than thirty days after the date of cremation.

C. A crematory and its crematory authority shall maintain a system or process that ensures that any dead human body in the crematory's possession can be specifically identified throughout all phases of the cremation process.

D. A crematory shall keep an accurate record of all cremations performed for a period of not less than seven years.

E. The crematory and its crematory authority shall certify to the board that the crematory will not exceed the scope of practice allowed by law.

F. A licensed crematory shall not engage in any activity not specifically permitted in this section.