Chapter 157

157.06(17) (17) Prohibited acts related to records. Any person who intentionally falsifies, forges, conceals, defaces, or obliterates a record of gift, an amendment or revocation of a record of gift, or a record of refusal for pecuniary gain is guilty of a Class H felony, except that notwithstanding the maximum fine specified in s. 939.50 (3) (h), the person may be fined not more than $50,000.

157.06(18) (18) Immunity.

157.06(18)(a) (a) A person who acts, or in good faith attempts to act, in accordance with this section or with the applicable anatomical gift law of another state is not liable for the act in a civil action, criminal prosecution, or administrative proceeding.

157.06(18)(b) (b) A person who makes an anatomical gift and the person’s estate are not liable for any injury or damage that results from the making of the anatomical gift or the use of the body or any part that is the subject of the anatomical gift.

157.06(18)(c) (c) A person may rely on a representation made by an individual purporting to be an individual listed under sub. (9) (a) 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., or 8. as to the individual’s relation to a donor or prospective donor in determining whether an anatomical gift of the donor’s or prospective donor’s body or part has been made, amended, or revoked.

157.06(19) (19) Law governing validity; choice of law as to making of anatomical gift; presumption of validity.

157.06(19)(a) (a) An anatomical gift is valid if made in accordance with any of the following:

157.06(19)(a)1. 1. This section.

157.06(19)(a)2. 2. The laws of the state or country where it was made.

157.06(19)(a)3. 3. The laws of the state or country where the individual making the anatomical gift was domiciled, had a place of residence, or was a national at the time the anatomical gift was made.

157.06(19)(b) (b) If an anatomical gift is valid under this subsection, the law of this state governs the interpretation of the anatomical gift.

157.06(19)(c) (c) A person may presume that an anatomical gift or an amendment of an anatomical gift is valid unless the person has actual knowledge that it was not validly made or was revoked.

157.06(20) (20) Donor Registry. The department of health services may establish a donor registry. If the department of health services establishes a donor registry under this subsection, the department of transportation, department of natural resources, and department of revenue shall cooperate with the department of health services in establishing the donor registry. The department of health services shall promulgate administrative rules governing any donor registry established under this subsection.

157.06(21) (21) Effect of anatomical gift on advance health care directive. If a prospective donor executed a declaration, as defined in s. 154.02 (1), or a power of attorney for health care instrument under ch. 155, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of an organ for transplantation or therapy may not be withheld or withdrawn from the prospective donor unless the declaration or power of attorney for health care instrument expressly provides to the contrary.

157.06(22m) (22m) Authorization by coroner or medical examiner; no evidence of anatomical gift.

157.06(22m)(ag) (ag) If a decedent is within the custody of a coroner or medical examiner and if there is no evidence that an anatomical gift of the decedent’s body or part has been made or that the decedent has refused to make an anatomical gift, the coroner or medical examiner shall contact by telephone the organ procurement organization designated for the region in which the death occurs. The coroner or medical examiner shall provide the organ procurement organization with information, if known to the coroner or medical examiner, concerning the decedent’s age, the cause of the decedent’s death and, if available, the decedent’s medical history.

157.06(22m)(am) (am) The coroner or medical examiner may release and permit the removal of a part from a decedent specified in par. (ag) within that official’s custody, for transplantation or therapy, including to a tissue bank under the requirements of sub. (24m), if all of the following apply:

157.06(22m)(am)1. 1. The official has received a request for the part from a hospital, physician, or organ procurement organization.

157.06(22m)(am)2. 2. The official has made a reasonable effort, taking into account the useful life of the part, to locate and examine the decedent’s medical records and, subject to sub. (25m), inform persons listed in sub. (9) of their option to make, or object to making, an anatomical gift.

157.06(22m)(am)3. 3. The official does not have actual knowledge of a refusal to make an anatomical gift or contrary indication by the decedent or of an objection by a person having priority to act as listed in sub. (9).

157.06(22m)(am)4. 4. The removal will be by a physician, except for the following:

157.06(22m)(am)4.a. a. In the case of eyes, the removal may be by a physician or by an enucleator.

157.06(22m)(am)4.b. b. In the case of tissue or bone, the removal may be by a physician or by a technician.

157.06(22m)(am)5. 5. The removal will not interfere with any autopsy or investigation.

157.06(22m)(am)6. 6. The removal will be in accordance with accepted medical standards.

157.06(22m)(am)7. 7. Cosmetic restoration will be done to the decedent’s body, if appropriate.

157.06(22m)(b) (b) A coroner or medical examiner who releases, and permits the removal of a part under this subsection shall maintain a permanent record of the name of the decedent, the name of the person making the request, the date and purpose of the request, the part requested, and the name of the person to whom it was released.

157.06(23m) (23m) Authorization by coroner or medical examiner; potential donations of organs and tissue.

157.06(23m)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), for a decedent who meets the criteria for a determination of death under s. 146.71, who is a donor, and who is within the jurisdiction of a coroner or medical examiner under ch. 979, any vascularized organ that is the subject of an anatomical gift may be removed by a physician, within a time period compatible with preservation of the organ for purposes of transplantation or therapy, if all of the following take place:

157.06(23m)(a)1. 1. Immediately after the hospital in which the donor or potential donor is located contacts the organ procurement organization designated for the region of which the hospital is a part concerning the potential donation, the organ procurement organization shall, by oral conversation, provide notice to the coroner or medical examiner or his or her designee of the referral of the donor or potential donor and shall provide notice of the referral to the district attorney or his or her designee.

157.06(23m)(a)2. 2. The coroner or medical examiner or his or her designee has the opportunity to be present during the scheduled removal of the vascularized organ if, in the judgment of the coroner, medical examiner, or designee, the organ may be necessary in determining the cause of death.

157.06(23m)(b) (b) If, in the judgment of the coroner, medical examiner, or designee specified in par. (a) the vascularized organ may be necessary in determining the cause of death, the coroner, medical examiner, or designee may order a biopsy of the vascularized organ or, if the coroner, medical examiner, or designee is present during the scheduled removal, he or she may deny removal of the vascularized organ. If denial of removal is a possibility, the organ procurement organization shall make a good faith effort to consult with a forensic pathologist designated by the coroner, medical examiner, or designee as to the pathologist’s opinion concerning the necessity of the vascularized organ in determining the cause of death. If the biopsy is ordered or the removal is denied, the coroner, medical examiner, or designee shall specify, in writing as part of any death report required under ch. 979, any reasons for determining that the vascularized organ may be involved in the cause of death.

157.06(23m)(c) (c) For a decedent specified under par. (a), as authorized under the requirements of this section by the coroner, medical examiner, or designee with jurisdiction over the decedent, any part other than a vascularized organ that is a subject of an anatomical gift may be removed by a physician and any part that is tissue or bone may be removed by a technician or tissue bank employee, within a time period compatible with preservation of the part for purposes of transplantation or therapy.

157.06(23m)(d) (d) A physician, technician, or tissue bank employee who removes cardiovascular tissue from a decedent under this subsection shall, upon request of the coroner or medical examiner, file with the coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the decedent a report detailing the condition of the cardiovascular tissue and its relationship to the cause of death. The report may include a biopsy or medically approved sample, if available, from the part.

157.06(23m)(e) (e)

157.06(23m)(e)1. 1. A physician who removes an organ from a decedent under this subsection shall complete a form, as specified in sub. (26m) (a).

157.06(23m)(e)2. 2. A physician, technician, or tissue bank employee who removes tissue, other than cardiovascular tissue, from a decedent under this subsection shall complete a form, as specified in sub. (26m) (b).

157.06(23m)(e)3. 3. After completing a form under this paragraph, the physician, technician, or tissue bank employee shall transmit the form to the coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the decedent.

157.06(24m) (24m) Authorization by coroner or medical examiner; tissue banks.

157.06(24m)(a) (a)

157.06(24m)(a)1. 1. If a decedent is within the custody of a coroner or medical examiner, and the death occurred in a hospital, any release of the decedent for potential donation of tissue shall be to the tissue bank with which the hospital has an agreement under sub. (14m) (a) 2. However, if such a tissue bank is unwilling to receive the tissue donation, the tissue bank shall so notify the coroner or medical examiner.

157.06(24m)(a)2. 2. Upon receipt of a notification under subd. 1., the coroner or medical examiner may notify any other tissue bank with which the coroner or medical examiner has an agreement under par. (b) of the availability of the decedent as a potential tissue donor.

157.06(24m)(a)3. 3. Upon receipt of a notification under subd. 2., the tissue bank so notified, if willing to receive the tissue donation, shall contact a reasonably available person, under the priority established in sub. (9), to request that the person make an anatomical gift of all or a part of the decedent’s tissue.

157.06(24m)(a)4. 4. If the coroner or medical examiner informs the hospital that subds. 2. and 3. apply and that consent has been given for an anatomical gift, the hospital shall transfer the decedent to the coroner or medical examiner.

157.06(24m)(b) (b) When a decedent is within the custody of a coroner or medical examiner, the death occurred outside a hospital or the decedent was transferred to the coroner or medical examiner under par. (a) 4., and the coroner or medical examiner refers the decedent as a potential tissue donor, any such referral shall be made under the following conditions:

157.06(24m)(b)1. 1. Subject to subds. 2., 3., and 4., the coroner or medical examiner, after considering a tissue bank’s history, services, traditional referral patterns, geographic service area, and tissue distribution record and any other criteria required for consideration by the corporation counsel of the applicable county, enters into a written, general referral agreement with one or more tissue banks to which the coroner or medical examiner shall refer decedents for potential donation of tissue.

157.06(24m)(b)2. 2. Any agreement under subd. 1. is subject to review and approval by all of the following:

157.06(24m)(b)2.a. a. The corporation counsel of the applicable county.

157.06(24m)(b)2.b. b. The county board of the applicable county. Within 60 days after any approval by the corporation counsel and transmittal of the agreement to the county board, the county board may approve or disapprove the agreement. If the county board takes no action, the agreement is approved.

157.06(24m)(b)3. 3. A tissue bank under this paragraph is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks or audited at least once every 2 years by an organization that is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks.

157.06(24m)(b)4. 4. All of the following applies to an agreement by a coroner or medical examiner with one or more tissue banks to which the coroner or medical examiner refers decedents for potential donation of tissue:

157.06(24m)(b)4.a. a. Any such agreement that is entered into after April 13, 2006, shall conform to the requirements of subds. 1. to 3.

157.06(24m)(b)4.b. b. Any such agreement that exists on April 13, 2006, shall conform to the requirements of subds. 1. to 3. by October 1, 2007, unless the agreement expires before that date and is not renegotiated or renewed under subd. 4. a.

157.06(25m) (25m) Consent for or limitation on certain uses of bones or tissue; requirements.

157.06(25m)(a) (a) A hospital, organ procurement organization, tissue bank, coroner, or medical examiner that provides a record of gift to a person who may make an anatomical gift under sub. (4) or (9) shall include in the record of gift the following sentences: “I understand that donated bones or tissues, including skin, may have numerous uses, including for reconstructive and cosmetic purposes, and that multiple organizations, including nonprofit and for-profit organizations, may recover, process, or distribute the donations. I further understand that I may, by this record, limit the use of the bones or tissues, including skin, that are donated or types of organizations that recover, process, or distribute the donation.”

157.06(25m)(b) (b) The record of gift under par. (a) shall include, following the 2nd sentence required in par. (a), all of the following:

157.06(25m)(b)1. 1. A line or space for the person who may make an anatomical gift to sign to acknowledge that he or she has read the sentences specified in par. (a) or that the sentences have been read aloud to him or her. Except in cases in which an anatomical gift is executed by means that do not require the person making the anatomical gift to sign a record of gift, failure of the person making the anatomical gift to sign in the line or space is a refusal to make or an objection to making an anatomical gift of bones or tissues.

157.06(25m)(b)2. 2. A line or space for the person making the anatomical gift to sign and specify a limitation, if any, on the use of bones or tissues or on the types of organizations that recover, process, or distribute the donation.

157.06(25m)(c) (c) If a person makes an anatomical gift in the manner provided in sub. (10) (a) 2. or 3., the individual receiving the oral communication shall read aloud to the person the sentences required under par. (a). If the anatomical gift is made in the manner provided in sub. (10) (a) 3., the individual who reduces the anatomical gift to a record shall note on the record that the person making the anatomical gift has been read the sentences required under par. (a) and note any limitations that the person making the anatomical gift imposes on the use of any bones or tissues that are the subject of the anatomical gift or any limitations on the types of organizations that recover, process, or distribute such bones or tissues.

157.06(25m)(d) (d) If a person who may make an anatomical gift under sub. (4) or (9) makes an anatomical gift under this subsection, the hospital, organ procurement organization, tissue bank, coroner, or medical examiner that provides to the person a record of gift under par. (a) shall also provide the person with the telephone number and address of the agency or organization that recovers the anatomical gift.

157.06(25m)(e) (e) The requester under par. (a) shall provide the person who may make an anatomical gift under sub. (4) or (9) with a copy of any record of gift executed under the requirements of this subsection.

157.06(26m) (26m) Forms for removal of organs and certain tissues; rules. The department of health services shall promulgate rules prescribing all of the following:

157.06(26m)(a) (a) A form for removal of organs for use under sub. (23m) (e) 1. and 3.

157.06(26m)(b) (b) A form for removal of tissue, other than cardiovascular tissue, for use under sub. (23m) (e) 2. and 3.

157.06(27m) (27m) Penalty. Whoever fails to comply with the requirement to provide sentences under sub. (25m) (a) or (c) may be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.

157.06(28m) (28m) Effect of prior document of gift. Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, a document of gift that was made under the requirements of s. 157.06, 1987 stats., or s. 157.06, 2005 stats., is deemed to comply with the requirements of this section.

157.06 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1971 c. 213 s. 5; 1977 c. 46, 124; 1979 c. 175 s. 53; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (45); 1981 c. 20, 290; 1983 a. 485; 1985 a. 286, 315; 1985 a. 316 s. 14; Stats. 1985 s. 157.06; 1989 a. 105; 1989 a. 298 ss. 3, 10m, 11m; 1991 a. 32; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1997 a. 52, 206, 305; 1999 a. 83; 2001 a. 103; 2005 a. 229, 230; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 106; 2009 a. 28, 177, 180; 2011 a. 258; 2011 a. 260 s. 81; 2013 a. 151 s. 28; 2015 a. 195 s. 83; 2017 a. 12; 2021 a. 113, 220; 2023 a. 178, 187.

157.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DHS 137, Wis. adm. code.

157.06 Annotation Chapters 69 and 157 are not alternatives to the requirement in s. 979.10 that anyone cremating a corpse must first obtain a cremation permit from the coroner. University medical schools or anyone else qualified to receive a corpse can receive a corpse for research without first obtaining a permit. 77 Atty. Gen. 218.

subch. II of ch. 157 SUBCHAPTER II

CEMETERIES

157.061 157.061 Definitions. Except as otherwise provided, in this subchapter:

157.061(1) (1) “Burial” means entombment, inurnment or interment.

157.061(1g) (1g) “Business day” has the meaning given in s. 421.301 (6).

157.061(1m) (1m) “Care fund” means one or more accounts or other investments established for the care of a cemetery.

157.061(1p) (1p) “Cemetery” means any land, including any mausoleum on the land, that is used or intended to be used, exclusively for the burial of human remains.

157.061(1r) (1r) “Cemetery association” means an association formed under s. 157.062.

157.061(2) (2) “Cemetery authority” means any person who owns or operates a cemetery specified in s. 157.065 (1).

157.061(2g) (2g) “Cemetery board” means the board created in s. 15.405 (3m).

157.061(2m) (2m) “Cemetery lot” means a grave or 2 or more contiguous graves and, when used in reference to the sale, purchase or ownership of a cemetery lot, includes the right to bury human remains in that cemetery lot.

157.061(3) (3) “Cemetery services and merchandise” means goods associated with the burial of human remains, including monuments, markers, nameplates, vases, and urns, and any services that are associated with supplying or delivering those goods or with the burial of human remains, including the burial or entombment, and that may be lawfully provided by a cemetery authority. The term does not include caskets or outer burial containers.

157.061(4) (4) “Dedicated” means platted as a cemetery.

157.061(7m) (7m) “Grave” means a piece of land that is used or intended to be used for an underground burial of human remains, other than a burial in an underground mausoleum space.

157.061(8) (8) “Human remains” means the body of a deceased individual that is in any stage of decomposition or has been cremated.

157.061(9) (9) “Mausoleum” means a building, structure or part of a building or structure that is used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains.

157.061(10) (10) “Mausoleum space” means a niche, crypt or specific place in a mausoleum that contains or is intended to contain human remains.

157.061(11) (11) “Municipality” means town, village or city.

157.061(11g) (11g) “Outer burial container” means any container that is placed or intended to be placed into the burial excavation of a grave and into which a casket is placed or intended to be placed at the time of burial.

157.061(11r) (11r) “Payment of principal” means the portion of a payment for the purchase of a cemetery lot, cemetery services and merchandise, or a mausoleum space that represents the principal amount owed by the purchaser for the cemetery lot, cemetery services and merchandise, or mausoleum space, and does not include any portion of the payment that represents any taxes, finance or interest charges, administrative fees, or insurance premiums.