[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328205,"mediaKeyId","2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a","parentId",2321421,"title","State health officials remove remains after Heaven Bound crematory inspection; permit suspended","audioSeconds",260,"startMs",1210000,"endMs",1470000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a&start=1210&end=1470","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a/thumbnail_1210000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328205/Maryland/State-health-officials-remove-remains-after-Heaven-Bound-crematory-inspection-permit-suspended","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328205-6cb57afcaafc483225de04a7200745a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192569&Signature=guQI0BlMyxKDhXtzNA3gJq4gqu0w3S-oRYqkPz-Sp9T6fmFTxGKdB8XgqY6~zAtLbMxXnYaPxN8Tt9VW0wW~8h7W-p4KpHXSU5T8sZQ-vsTcfWZV3pSBqtIEan5Xai3FEaihn1qXsAVLQuUnDVVr0KSS75sYj9ewH6vFTXuUi4mjqrwyOMKH2b0jYBvoBfvKs~oUHfo-5ky0HNIE1uuMpV2YXRrfZ8UvDC~XN1dDpBofphN-lwHC4e5Y5snwgM5AN-V8J-T6Ah-BUmIk44JiYxgh6A6GM28z-xbc0NjJz3u3h9cj2tn3odeFovUeVAVh7jh6RzKQjOTA9gUvIl291A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MGA - HGO","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Maryland Department of Health and the State Anatomy Board told the Health and Government Operations Committee that they intervened after inspectors found a malfunctioning retort, delayed cremations, refrigeration gaps and sanitation problems at Heaven Bound Cremation Service.

Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health, said the state first learned of the incident on Jan. 10 after the Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors notified the Charles County Health Department. He said Charles County alerted the state on Jan. 13 and the state convened a response team that same day. Under local public-health authority they issued an abatement order and gave the facility 72 hours to comply, Kalyanaraman said.

Kalyanaraman described the timeline: investigators found 25 decedents at the facility on Jan. 16, and by Jan. 17 — the 72‑hour inspection — 18 decedents remained. \"So we did serve a subpoena under the secretary's authority to get records pertaining to those 18 decedents,\" he said. The Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors then \"severely suspended the crematory permit of Heaven Bound and the crematory operators,\" which prevented further handling at the site.

On Jan. 18, Kalyanaraman said, the State Anatomy Board removed 18 decedents from Heaven Bound and sheltered them in the anatomy board's facility. The State Anatomy Board contacted next of kin, recorded 16 family wishes by the end of that week and completed dispositions for all 18 families about a week later, Kalyanaraman said. He added the department monitored cleanup of biohazardous materials and on Feb. 10 found the facility had completed the necessary cleaning and sealed biohazardous material for pickup; a Feb. 7 checklist had listed final items needed to clear the site.

Kalyanaraman framed the action as a public-health abatement intended to protect the public from \"imminent risk\" posed by improperly managed remains and biohazardous materials. He said the plan allowed either return of decedents to originating funeral homes or transfer to another funeral home; unclaimed decedents would become the State Anatomy Board's responsibility for disposition.

Separately, members of the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors described organizational and staffing problems the board says it is addressing. Erica Malone, executive director, said the board is authorized for 11 members but had six at the time of the briefing and that the board's staff complement is six positions; Malone said the board had four staff on hand, including one inspector/investigator for the entire state.

Andrew Liberto, the board's inspector and investigator, told the committee he inspected three to six establishments per day after the board's new executive director began work but that from 2022 through much of 2023 he had been in the office and not able to perform inspections because the board lacked staff. Liberto said the board currently has an inspections backlog of about 90 establishments (he said the backlog had been as high as about 300 before new hires and efforts to clear inspections).

Board leaders asked for better interagency communication and additional staff funding. Malone said the board is working on standard operating procedures, an automated complaint submission platform, updated complaint‑committee cadence and fee regulation adjustments to increase resources. Charlotte Hoffman, the board's first vice president and a consumer representative, said confidentiality rules in COMAR limit how much the board can publish about open investigations, but suggested procedural and statutory changes to improve the board's ability to act on urgent matters.

In committee exchanges, MDH and board officials said the summary suspensions and subpoenas were taken under statutory authority; the board declined to discuss details of pending litigation related to the case. Board members said Heaven Bound exists as a legal entity but \"is not operating as a crematorium\" because of the suspension of its license; the board said it could not disclose whether the facility could seek to resume operations because of ongoing actions and litigation.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HGO Committee Session, 2/14/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Maryland health officials said they used abatement authority, subpoenas and a summary suspension of Heaven Bound Crematory’s permit after inspectors found a broken retort, refrigeration gaps and sanitation problems that left dozens of decedents at the facility.","taxTitle","Health and Government Operations Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15061,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328210,"State office says it regulates five crematories, logs no recent crematory complaints",245,247000,492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a&start=247&end=492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a/thumbnail_247000.jpg","/articles/6328210/Maryland/State-office-says-it-regulates-five-crematories-logs-no-recent-crematory-complaints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328210-ba4dbd52f23d7338b77fff080626f0c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192569&Signature=XRPiJAhNuvLbYZs9GgLhmp~8uzp3SExCQtODvgw3zLnGpuqUxBdYEK-mBCDCWDccUEP2jGOQEDSWTGHSF06mBimQdUy0a0lpINAlARP8Qju8JEYML5H3hCRh3ZxYfI6802WmRY2zj~s2m2xgXpeNGjVykzr9cLbwZxn7DjHID84tFbEn-fQkdQlpl~vRoQZlNu4jYdblr0y8cRRkAjwZm8ZhqrzbB~cLtiHKMG56qxs3UZDWMGd7LPKUIKPeq-klpSUjH~gV9KXjD0Qq6FAAeDtlCE3eOwQCJ9aTWIm7hHJCVCXg1K0kMDW0PaPFfMqQO6B0D1vJ9jaHL5nUrJmYfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Dove, commissioner of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing at the Maryland Department of Labor, told the Health and Government Operations Committee that the Office of Cemetery Oversight licenses and inspects a small number of crematories and handles consumer complaints.

Dove said the state has 47 regulated crematories: \"42 of them are regulated by the Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors with the Maryland Department of Health,\" and \"5 crematories are regulated by the Office of Cemetery Oversight.\" He added the office licenses 21 crematory operators and that the five crematories the office oversees were inspected during the past year \"with no significant findings.\"

The office described a paper-based complaint process. Consumers may download a complaint form or request one by mail or email; the office logs each submission, sends an acknowledgement, and the investigator reviews complaints to decide whether to perform an on-site inspection. Commissioner Dove summarized possible sanctions available to the office, saying the OCO can \"order summarily the suspension of a license\" in emergencies, hold hearings for nonemergency matters, issue cease-and-desist orders, deny or revoke licenses, reprimand, and impose fines — \"a maximum of $5,000 for each violation and $500 for each day a violation continues.\" The office also can seek restraining orders in circuit court to halt operations.

Dove described the office's staffing as small: an executive director, one investigator, and vacancies for a licensing specialist and a financial administrator (the latter a part-time contract position). Committee members asked whether filling those vacancies would bring staffing to an adequate level; Dove said current staffing suffices for the volume of complaints the office receives now but that the office would reassess if complaint volumes rose.

When asked how often the office inspects the crematories it regulates, Dove said inspections occur at initial licensing and then every two years for those five crematories.

The committee also asked about regulation of alkaline hydrolysis (a cremation alternative). Dove said the office is working with the Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors and has several drafts of a rule for public comment, but he did not give a publication date.

The office advised consumers and permit holders that when an investigator finds potential criminal conduct the matter is forwarded for criminal investigation, and that once a complaint is closed the office notifies both the permit holder and the complainant of the disposition.

Closing details: Dove asked the committee for patience while the office fills vacancies and said the office posts laws and regulation links on its website for consumers. He thanked the committee for the opportunity to brief members.

","The Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight told the Health and Government Operations Committee it oversees five crematories, inspected them in the past year with no significant findings, and has a single investigator handling complaints and inspections while two staff positions remain vacant.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328200,"Maryland agencies outline testing, quarantines and milk testing in HPAI response",277,3533000,3810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a&start=3533&end=3810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321421-93391325540af008259a73e23674215a/thumbnail_3533000.jpg","/articles/6328200/Maryland/Maryland-agencies-outline-testing-quarantines-and-milk-testing-in-HPAI-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328200-5f6c846b0210cae9e636316bea5ff947/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192569&Signature=Tn6f3JQNfIAGeB1F34VNI-8OlijS3nKv2JAZ8ao1-uoUgnXfjcH~UQAbfNTl6cN6jT9w3JmyQccMJwVf3lG~ZsUEpgAmQwo4mcT404FqyPN3Qrhfb0DaqQpai46hYHvnYASAfN0qzold7XZ7~t4P828QknjoahCDChCcKSvYJ0qeZsRzSnkMG9D1Ze3wdJ0dsUOq9sQ2Z5GETg70fRCvDOB0kjGgFJgAGlFSGQIn1DG1wtPpu3qVzVgJB5swaisMLWttvr5GL6SGNtVcfn8CPELB0jH7c3G-c2GMe3I7aBPKGznP4JX3t5lXTy-Khd7wS9GBSVVolHkAL~ttJmGiyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials from the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Health told the Health and Government Operations Committee that Maryland has taken coordinated steps to detect and limit spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry, monitor dairy milk for viral RNA, and protect workers and consumers.

Dr. Jennifer Trout, state veterinarian at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, said Maryland has five commercial HPAI cases, all on the Eastern Shore, and one backyard flock in Montgomery County; four of the five commercial operations have had their control areas released after depopulation, cleaning and disinfection. \"Our other case in the state is a backyard flock in Montgomery County, and that flock has also been depopulated and is in a fallow period where that person is not allowed to have birds for 120 days,\" Trout said.

Deputy Secretary Steve Connolly and Rachel Jones, director of government relations for MDA, described five core response steps: quarantine the infected premises, humanely euthanize and remove infected birds, compost on-farm when appropriate, eliminate contamination at the farm, and impose movement restrictions and testing in control and surveillance zones. Connolly noted MDA is coordinating regionally through an interstate incident command and a joint information center including Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Connolly and Dr. Trout said Maryland has not detected HPAI in lactating dairy cattle in-state but is conducting on‑farm bulk-tank milk testing, and the state issued a joint MDA-MDH order on Dec. 30 requiring testing of milk from Maryland dairy farms. Connolly described weekly milk surveillance at the farm level for product that enters commerce; he said neighboring states run similar programs. The agencies emphasized that pasteurization renders milk safe and that raw (unpasteurized) milk poses greater risk if animals are infected.

The agencies said standard biosecurity measures remain the most effective prevention: control measures for commercial producers, advice for backyard flock owners, guidance for hunters to avoid carrying contamination from wild birds, dedicated footwear and clothing, footbaths, hand hygiene, and immediate reporting of unusual bird deaths. MDA said it maintains records for commercial operations and registered backyard flocks (about 8,119 registered noncommercial flocks in Maryland) and said concentrated animal feeding operations and farms with nutrient-management plans are known in MDA records.

On economic impact, MDA officials said poultry contributes billions to Maryland’s economy and that USDA reimbursement is available to indemnify index farms that lose birds, though Connolly said some federal reimbursement elements were administratively delayed and broader risk‑management tools for growers were being pursued in the next federal farm bill. The department said the state's broiler capacity is large (tens of millions) and that managers are working to limit disruptions by releasing control areas as soon as safe and restoring normal flock rotations when possible.

Maryland Department of Health officials said the human health risk remains low to the general public and that, to date, Maryland had not detected H5 infections in people. Dr. Crum (Maryland Department of Health) said CDC has recorded human cases nationally and that Maryland is conducting clinician outreach, hospital lab surveillance for subtyping influenza A specimens, active symptom monitoring of exposed workers and access to testing and antivirals when indicated. The department does not recommend routine asymptomatic testing of exposed workers; testing is targeted to people who meet exposure and symptom criteria.

Officials closed by urging seasonal flu vaccination to reduce the risk of human co-infection and reassortment, encouraging standard biosecurity practices, and asking farmers and hunters to report suspect die-offs to agencies.

","Maryland Department of Agriculture and Department of Health officials briefed lawmakers on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), describing five commercial poultry cases in the Eastern Shore, a depopulated backyard flock in Montgomery County, weekly milk testing for dairies, and interagency steps to limit spread and protect public health.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State health officials remove remains after Heaven Bound crematory inspection; permit suspended

State office says it regulates five crematories, logs no recent crematory complaints

Maryland agencies outline testing, quarantines and milk testing in HPAI response