HCSHBs2322&1774--LICENSINGOFPERSONSPERFORMINGFUNERAL-
RELATEDSERVICES
SPONSOR: Farnan
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonProfessionalRegistrationandLicensingbyavoteof
13to0.
Thisbillmodifiestheprocessforobtainingastudentlicensefor
thepracticeofembalming. Undertheprovisionsofthisbill,an
applicantmustsubmitanapplication;payallapplicationfess;and
provideevidencethatheorsheisatleast18yearsold,possesses
ahighschooldiplomaortheequivalentthereof,andisenrolledin
orhascompletedafuneralserviceeducationprogram. Upon
application,approvalbytheStateBoardofEmbalmersandFuneral
Directorsastudentlicenseemay,withsupervision,assistinthe
embalmingprocess.
Therequirementsforfulllicensureareoutlinedinthebilland
includethatthestudentlicenseehascompletedanapprenticeship
ofnolessthansixmonths,haspersonallyembalmedatleast25
deadhumanbodies,andhaspassedthespecifiedexams.Underthe
provisionsofthisbill,astudentlicenseeshallhavefiveyears
tocompletetherequirementsforfulllicensure.
Thisbillalsomodifiestheprocessforobtainingafuneral
directorlicense.
Anapplicantmayobtainaprovisionallicenseifheorshesubmits
anapplicationtotheStateBoardofEmbalmersandFuneral
Directors;paysthecurrentapplicationfees;andprovidesevidence
thatheorsheisatleast18yearsofage,possessesahighschool
diplomaortheequivalentthereof,andwillworkasanapprentice
funeraldirectorunderthepersonalsupervisionofalicensed
funeraldirector. Anapplicantforaprovisionalfuneraldirector
licenseshallhave36monthstocompletetherequirementsforfull
license.
Anapplicantmayobtainafulllicensetopracticeasafuneral
directorifheorshesubmitsanapplicationtotheStateBoardof
EmbalmersandFuneralDirectors;paysallapplicationfees;and
submitsevidencetoestablishtothesatisfactionoftheboardthat
heorsheisatleast18,possessesahighschooldiplomaorthe
equivalentthereof,andhaspassedtheMissourilawexamination.
Theapplicantmusthavesuccessfullycompleted:
(1)AprogramaccreditedbytheAmericanBoardofFuneralService
Educationoranysuccessororganizationotheraccreditingentityas approvedbytheboard.Theapplicantmustalsodooneofthe
following:
(2)Aqualifyingapprenticeship foratleast12months,during
whichtheapplicantconductedandarrangedatleast10funeralsand
passedtheNationalBoardorStateBoardArtsexamination;or
(3)Aqualifyingapprenticeship foratleast18months,during
whichtheapplicanthasconductedandarrangedatleast25
funerals. LimitedlicensureforFuneralDirectorrequirementsare
alsooutlinedinthebill,andpermitlicenseestoworkinfuneral
establishments licensedonlyforcremationthatincludes
transportation ofdeadhumanbodies.
TheseprovisionshaveadelayedeffectivedateofAugust28,2025.
ThisbillissimilartoHB629(2023)andHB1491(2022).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisisnotloweringthestandards
forfuneraldirectorsandembalmers. Thisisanotherwayfor
applicantstoobtainalicensewhilegettinghands-onexperience.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Farnanand
theMissouriFuneralDirectorsAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.