The state Senate approved a bill yesterday requiring funeral homes to keep track of bodies until they are buried or cremated.

The bill would require the public health commissioner to set up a procedure that would follow the transfer and movement of a body from the time of death until burial or return of remains to the family.

The bill comes after last summer’s discovery of five decomposing bodies in the garage of Wade Funeral Home in New Haven. The home’s operator was arrested and charged with running the business without a license and improperly disposing of bodies.

Only one of the five bodies has been identified.

The violations led to the hiring of two funeral home inspectors by the state Department of Public Health. The department admitted that the state had not had an inspector for its more than 300 funeral homes since a part-time worker retired 11 years ago.

The bill now goes to the House.

–Associated Press