The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Ridge.
DIGEST
SB 146 Original 2020 Regular Session Johns
Present law provides for the regulation and licensure of embalmers and funeral directors by the
Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (board).
Proposed law creates a new license for a funeral director assistant. "Funeral director assistant"
means a person to whom a valid license has been issued by the board to assist a funeral director in
one or more of the functions of funeral directing and actively engage in such work.
Proposed law provides that the qualifications of a funeral director assistant are as follows:
(1)Is at least 18 years of age.
(2)Has obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(3)Is found by the board to be of good moral character and temperate habits.
(4)Has served an internship in the state for a period of not less than three months and not more
than 12 months and has actively assisted in at least 20 funerals.
(5)Has paid the application fee.
(6)Has passed satisfactorily an examination conducted by the board relative to La. rules and
regulations.
Proposed law requires payment of an application fee of not more than $150 and subjects the licensee
to a renewal fee of not more than $80.
Proposed law provides that a funeral director assistant shall be an employee of a funeral home and
work under the supervision of a funeral director. Provides the funeral director assistant shall be a
person to whom the funeral director delegates the responsibility of funeral directing.
Proposed law makes it unlawful for a funeral director assistant to manage a funeral home, sign a
death certificate, sign a cremation coroner form, and sign a cremation authorization form.
Proposed law allows the board to adopt administrative rules relative to funeral director assistants.
Effective August 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 37:831(44) through (80), 842(C), (D)(intro para), (E)(intro para), (F)(intro para), (G)(intro para), and (H), 845(3), 848(D), (E), and (F) and 855(A); adds R.S. 37:831(81), 842(I),
842.1, 845(10), and 848(G))