FUNERAL DIRECT/EMBALM-PRACTICE
Notably, the transportation of deceased human bodies to a cemetery or other final resting place must happen under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed professional. However, for transportation to crematories, general supervision suffices. This change impacts operational practices in funeral homes, where licensed personnel can delegate certain tasks while still ensuring that licensed supervision oversights the broader processes involved in handling deceased individuals.
House Bill 2262 amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code, primarily focusing on the definitions and regulations surrounding the practice of funeral directing and embalming. The bill clarifies that the removal of a deceased human body must occur under the general supervision of a licensed funeral director or embalmer. However, it allows that this supervision does not need to be immediate or direct, provided the licensed individual gives proper direction and instruction about handling the body. This provision aims to provide more flexibility in how funeral services operate while maintaining standards of care.
One of the bill's contentious points lies in the provisions that previously allowed individuals without a license to participate in the removal of bodies under certain circumstances. HB2262 removes these allowances, emphasizing the necessity of having licensed personnel involved in all significant stages of handling a deceased human body. This shift may lead to increasing operational costs for funeral homes as they may need to employ more licensed directors or embalmers, stirring debates on accessibility and the economic implications for smaller funeral service providers.