By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) has been working to implement a what he calls a ‘modern’ solution to the issue of indigent burials and the lack of available services for them.

Brady, a funeral home director and former coroner, sponsored a measure which passed the Illinois Hose and Senate last month and heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk. It says if a family cannot pay for a funeral, state or local officials can refer the family the option of donating the remains to a mortuary or other medical facility for study.

“This comes in situations that are very unfortunate where the individual either has no next of kin, cannot be identified or the next of kin has no private funds available,” Brady said.

Brady added the measure would also apply in cases where a body can’t be identified or no family comes forward.

“If it’s a state facility where the state has responsibility of that individual through a state mental hospital, through some other means of guardianship, this is something that shall be done after a period of time if no next of kin comes will claim the remains,” Brady said.

Illinois restored some funding for indigent burials in the recently-approved budget after Rauner pulled funding in 2015. Brady said the proposal was not a response to that funding cut.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].