COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio funeral home that was blocked from dissolving bodies using lye and heat is joining a funeral directors' group in pushing for the state to legalize the process.

A bill in the Ohio House would recognize alkaline hydrolysis as a separate legal form of disposition, rather than lumping it in with traditional cremation, as some states have done. The bill was introduced in March after a judge's ruling blocked Edwards Funeral Service in Columbus from using the process.

Edwards used the method in 19 cases before a state board and the Ohio Department of Health stepped in with restrictions, saying they didn't believe the method was legal under state law.

Edwards filed a lawsuit, but a judge ruled the officials had authority to determine which disposition methods are allowed.