ENROLLED ACT No. 25 2015 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 554 BY REPRESENTATIVE RITCHIE 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:831(introductory paragraph) and (10) and (44) and 842(F)(1) 3 through (3), relative to state licensed embalmers and funeral directors; to provide for 4 definitions relative to branch and funeral establishments; to provide for authorized 5 embalming performed by supervised registered interns; to require a minimum 6 number of caskets in display rooms of funeral establishments; to provide with 7 respect to funeral establishment management; and to provide for related matters. 8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 9 Section 1. R.S. 37:831(introductory paragraph) and (10) and (44) and 842(F)(1) 10 through (3) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 11 §831. Definitions 12 For purposes of this Chapter and implementation thereof, the following terms 13 shall have the meaning as defined herein, unless the context clearly indicates 14 otherwise: 15 * * * 16 (10) "Branch establishment" means an auxiliary facility or division of a main 17 funeral establishment licensed under the provisions of this Chapter and used for the 18 care, embalming, or disposition of dead human bodies a licensed funeral 19 establishment devoted to or used in the care of the body of a deceased person, or 20 maintained or held out to the public, by advertising or otherwise, as the office or 21 place for the practice of funeral directing. Ownership of the branch is identical to 22 the ownership of the main funeral establishment controlling the branch, and such Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 554 ENROLLED 1 establishment can practically be served by the licensed personnel of the main 2 establishment. 3 * * * 4 (44) "Funeral establishment" means any place or premises duly licensed by 5 the board and devoted to or used in the care and preparation for burial disposition of 6 the body of a deceased person or maintained or held out to the public by advertising 7 or otherwise as the office or place for the practice of funeral directing. 8 * * * 9 §842. Minimum qualifications for license 10 * * * 11 F. Any establishment where the business of funeral directing or embalming 12 as defined in R.S. 37:831 is conducted within this state shall be duly licensed. An 13 establishment shall be qualified to be licensed to operate as such if it meets all of the 14 following requirements: 15 (1) It is managed or is to be managed by a funeral director holding a valid 16 license, other than a temporary license, from the state of Louisiana. The funeral 17 director shall manage the establishment on a full-time basis and funeral directing 18 shall be his principal occupation. 19 (2) Embalming is performed only by an embalmer and funeral director 20 holding a valid license from the state of Louisiana or a registered intern under the 21 supervision of a state-licensed embalmer and funeral director. 22 (3)(a) It is found, after proper investigation to meet the requirements 23 established by the board with respect to all of the following: 24 (i) licensed personnel, Licensed personnel, including those working under 25 the authority of a temporary license. 26 (ii) registered Registered interns, and those working under the authority of 27 a temporary license,. 28 (iii) embalming Embalming facilities for the sanitation, disinfection, and 29 preparation of a human body,. 30 (iv) adequate Adequate buildings,. Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HB NO. 554 ENROLLED 1 (v) display Display rooms for displaying funeral merchandise consisting of, 2 but not limited to a minimum of six adult caskets of a variety of styles and quality. 3 (vi) Other necessary facilities, furnishings, or and equipment and other 4 necessary facilities to adequately serve the public. 5 (b) The embalming facilities and display rooms described in this Paragraph 6 are required in every funeral establishment that is not a branch establishment. 7 * * * SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.