Juliana Marins Law: House Committee approves bill on transfer of Brazilians who died abroad

The Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved this Friday the 11th the bill that provides for cases in which the federal government may pay for the transfer of the body or remains of a needy Brazilian who died abroad.

The text was nicknamed the 'Juliana Marins law', in reference to the Brazilian woman who died after falling off a cliff while hiking Mount Rinjani , in Indonesia.

The proposal will still be reviewed conclusively by the Finance and Taxation Committee and the Constitution and Justice and Citizenship Committee (CCJ). To become law, the text must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

According to the text, the Union may cover, in whole or in part, the costs of transfer to Brazilian territory after a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attesting:

• the fact that the family does not have the financial means to cover the costs;
• there is no type of insurance (travel, life, funeral) that covers these expenses;
• lack of employer liability in the case of business travel;
• absence of health-related impediments;
• the deceased's status as a visitor or temporary resident.

When evaluating the granting of financial assistance, the government may, with the family's authorization, prioritize the option of cremation abroad and the transfer of ashes to Brazilian territory, for health, logistical or economic reasons.

The criteria and procedures for granting and executing the transfer will be defined in regulations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Expenses will be covered by the Itamaraty budget , through the consular assistance program for Brazilians abroad.