Rhode Island 2023 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6340 Introduced / Bill

Filed 04/28/2023

                     
 
 
 
2023 -- H 6340 
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LC002754 
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 
____________ 
 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FUNERAL DIRECTOR/EMB ALMER 
AND FUNERAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS 
Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Ajello, Speakman, Kislak, Cotter, Craven, 
Kazarian, Carson, and Henries 
Date Introduced: April 28, 2023 
Referred To: House Corporations 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1. Sections 5-33.2-1, 5-33.2-13, 5-33.2-13.1, 5-33.2-13.2, 5-33.2-15, 5-33.2-17 1 
and 5-33.2-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-33.2 entitled "Funeral Director/Embalmer and 2 
Funeral Service Establishments" are hereby amended to read as follows: 3 
5-33.2-1. Definitions. 4 
As used in this chapter: 5 
(1) “Board” means the state board of funeral directors/embalmers. 6 
(2) “Cremation” means a two-part (2) procedure where a dead human body or body parts 7 
are reduced by direct flames to residue that includes bone fragments and the pulverization of the 8 
bone fragments to a coarse powdery consistency. 9 
(3) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health. 10 
(4) "Disposition facility" means a building or structure utilized for the reducing of human 11 
remains by means of cremation or natural organic reduction. 12 
(4)(5) “Division” means the division of professional regulation created under chapter 26 of 13 
this title. 14 
(5)(6) “Embalmer” means any person who has completed an internship; full course of study 15 
at an accredited mortuary science school; has passed the national board examination; and is 16 
engaged in the practice or profession of embalming, as defined in this section. 17 
(6)(7) “Embalming” means the practice, science, or profession of preserving, disinfecting, 18   
 
 
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and preparing in any manner dead human bodies for burial, cremation, or transportation. 1 
(7)(8) “Funeral” means a period following death in which there are religious services or 2 
other rites or ceremonies with the body of the deceased present. 3 
(8)(9)(i) “Funeral directing” means: 4 
(A) Conducting funeral services; or 5 
(B) The arrangement for disposition of dead human bodies, except in the case of any 6 
religion where the preparation of the body or the provision of funeral services should be done 7 
according to religious custom or belief. 8 
(ii) Only funeral directors/embalmers working for a licensed funeral establishment are 9 
allowed to meet with families for the purpose of arranging funerals. Provided, that any person who 10 
assumed an ownership interest from his or her spouse or any widow or widower of a licensed 11 
funeral director who at the time of November 1, 1995, has been meeting with families to arrange 12 
for the conducting of funeral services is allowed to continue this practice. 13 
(9)(10) “Funeral director/embalmer” means any person engaged, or holding himself or 14 
herself out as engaged, in the practice or profession of funeral directing, and the science, practice, 15 
or profession of embalming as previously defined, including a funeral director of record, who may 16 
be a funeral director at more than one establishment or any other word or title intending to imply 17 
or designate him or her as a funeral director/embalmer, undertaker, or mortician. The holder of this 18 
license must be the holder of an embalmer’s license. 19 
(10)(11) “Funeral director/embalmer intern” means any person engaged in learning the 20 
practice or profession of funeral directing and the science, practice, or profession of embalming 21 
under the instruction and supervision of a funeral director/embalmer licensed and registered under 22 
the provisions of this chapter and actively engaged in the practice or profession of funeral directing 23 
and embalming in this state. 24 
(11)(12) “Funeral establishment” means a fixed place, establishment, or premises, licensed 25 
by the department, devoted to the activities that are incident, convenient, or related to the care and 26 
preparation, arrangement, financial and otherwise, for the funeral, transportation, burial, or other 27 
disposition of human dead bodies and including, but not limited to, a suitable room with all 28 
instruments and supplies used for the storage or preparation of dead human bodies for burial or 29 
other disposition. 30 
(12)(13) “Funeral merchandise” means those items that are normally presented for sale as 31 
part of the funeral home operation on a for-profit basis. These items include caskets, sealed, 32 
warranted outer-burial containers, and burial clothing. Not included are urns, grave markers, and 33 
non-sealed outer-burial containers. All persons engaged in the sale of funeral merchandise must 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 3 of 24 
comply with the provisions of chapter 33.1 of this title. 1 
(14) "Natural organic reduction (NOR)" means the contained, accelerated conversion of 2 
human remains to soil.  3 
(15) "Natural organic reduction facility" means a structure, room or other space in a 4 
building or real property where natural organic reduction of a human body occurs.  5 
(13)(16) “Person” includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, limited-liability 6 
companies, associations, and organizations of all kinds. 7 
(14)(17) “Practice of funeral service” means a person engaging in providing shelter, care, 8 
and custody of human dead remains; in the practice of preparing of the human dead remains by 9 
embalming or other methods for burial or other disposition; in entering into a funeral service 10 
contract; engaging in the functions of funeral directing and/or embalming as presently known, 11 
including those stipulated within this chapter and as defined in the Federal Trade Commission 12 
“Funeral Rule.” The practice of conducting funeral services shall be conducted in the presence of 13 
a licensed funeral director/embalmer. 14 
5-33.2-13. Funeral establishment and branch officer — Crematories — Inspections 15 
— Denial of access. Funeral establishment and branch officer — Disposition facilities — 16 
Inspections — Denial of access. 17 
(a) Any licensed funeral director/embalmer employed, authorized, and empowered by the 18 
division of professional regulation may enter any funeral establishment, funeral-establishment 19 
branch office, or crematory disposition facility licensed under the provisions of this chapter, during 20 
the hours the funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, or crematory disposition 21 
facility is open for business, for the purpose of inspecting the sanitary conditions, complaint 22 
investigations, and ascertaining if the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations are 23 
being observed in the operation of the funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, 24 
or crematory disposition facility. The inspector may request permission from the department to be 25 
accompanied by another employee of the department of health prior to an inspection. Failure or 26 
refusal of the person in charge of that funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, 27 
or crematory disposition facility to permit the inspection at all reasonable times shall be deemed 28 
sufficient cause for the revocation of any license issued to the funeral establishment, funeral-29 
establishment branch office, or crematory disposition facility and any certificate of approval issued 30 
by the division. 31 
(b) Funeral establishments and branch offices and crematories disposition facilities 32 
licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall be inspected at least twice each year. Inspections 33 
shall include all areas of sanitation and public health, complaint investigations, as well as 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 4 of 24 
conformity with applicable section of this chapter and the rules and regulations. 1 
5-33.2-13.1. Crematories — License and inspection. Disposition facilities — License 2 
and inspection. 3 
No crematory disposition facility owned or operated by or located on property licensed as 4 
a funeral establishment or at another location or by a cemetery shall conduct cremations or natural 5 
organic reduction without first having applied for and obtained a license from the department. 6 
Applications for the crematory disposition facility license shall be made on forms furnished by the 7 
division accompanied by the application fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. Upon receipt of a completed 8 
application, the department shall issue a license. A license shall be issued to a specific licensee for 9 
a specific location and is not transferable. The facility and licensee shall meet all requirements as 10 
prescribed by the rules and regulations established by the department, not inconsistent with this 11 
chapter. 12 
5-33.2-13.2. Cremation of human remains. Disposition of human remains. 13 
(a)(1) Cremation Disposition shall not take place until the necessary permits and consents 14 
are issued pursuant to § 23-3-18. 15 
(2) A crematory disposition facility shall not take custody of unidentified human remains. 16 
(3) Human remains designated for cremation shall be cremated without unreasonable 17 
delay. Disposition of human remains shall occur without unreasonable delay. 18 
(4) When the crematory disposition facility is unable to cremate initiate the disposition 19 
process of the human remains immediately upon taking custody, the crematory disposition facility 20 
shall provide a holding facility that complies with any applicable public health law and that 21 
preserves the dignity of the human remains. 22 
(5) Holding facilities must be secure from access by all unauthorized persons. 23 
(6) A crematory disposition facility shall not simultaneously cremate conduct the process 24 
of reduction of human remains of more than one human remain within the same cremation 25 
disposition chamber. The processing, packaging, storage, and disposition of cremated remains 26 
following cremation or natural organic reduction shall be as prescribed in the rules and regulations 27 
promulgated by the department of health division of professional regulation. 28 
(7) A crematory disposition facility or funeral home shall be authorized to dispose of the 29 
cremated remains following cremation or natural organic reduction that have been abandoned at 30 
the crematory disposition facility or funeral home for more than six (6) months. All reasonable 31 
attempts must be made and diligence exercised to contact the person in charge who authorized the 32 
cremation. 33 
(b) This section does not apply to the cremation of various body parts from different human 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 5 of 24 
bodies. 1 
5-33.2-15. Annual renewal of licenses. 2 
All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter must be renewed annually by their 3 
holders, who shall pay to the division a yearly renewal fee for the renewal of a funeral 4 
director/embalmer’s license, and additional fees for each funeral-establishment branch office 5 
license and for the crematory disposition facility license. These fees are as set forth in § 23-1-54. 6 
On or before the fifteenth day of November in each year, the division shall mail to each licensed 7 
funeral director/embalmer and to each licensed funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch 8 
office, and crematory disposition facility an application for the renewal. Applications, accompanied 9 
by the fee for renewal, shall be filed with the division on or before the thirty-first day of December 10 
in each year. Applications filed after the thirty-first of December and on or before the fifteenth of 11 
January must be accompanied by a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 for funeral director/embalmers and 12 
funeral establishments in addition to the previously established renewal fees. Any funeral 13 
director/embalmer who acts or holds himself or herself out as a funeral director/embalmer after his 14 
or her certificate has been lapsed shall be punished as provided in this chapter. Any funeral 15 
establishment, funeral-establishment branch office, or crematory disposition facility that acts or 16 
holds itself out as a funeral establishment after its license has lapsed shall be punished as provided 17 
in this chapter. 18 
5-33.2-17. Revocation or suspension of license. 19 
(a) The division has the power to refuse to issue or may revoke or suspend any license 20 
issued by it under this chapter, after written notification and a hearing before the board for gross 21 
incompetency, for unprofessional conduct, which is defined to include: 22 
(1) Conviction of a felony; 23 
(2) Misrepresentations made of services, goods, or of funeral prices or fraud committed as 24 
a holder of a license for the practice of embalming, funeral directing, or the holder of a license as a 25 
funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch, or crematory disposition facility; 26 
(3) False or misleading advertising as the holder of a license for the practice of embalming, 27 
funeral directing, or the holder of a license as a funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch, 28 
or crematory disposition facility; violating any regulations relating to “truth in advertising”; or 29 
failure to do the following: 30 
(i) List only full-time employees or those having an ownership interest in the 31 
advertisements including his or her title, which clearly identifies one’s duties; 32 
(ii) List the name of the funeral director of record for the establishment in all advertising; 33 
(iii) A deceased founder may be listed in advertisements with the notation “founder” 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 6 of 24 
following the name; 1 
(4) Solicitation of dead human bodies by any licensed embalmer, funeral director, funeral 2 
attendant, or the holder of license as a funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch or 3 
crematory disposition facility, its agents, assistants, or employees, whether the solicitation occurs 4 
after death or while death is impending; provided, that this does not prohibit general advertising; 5 
(5) Employment directly or indirectly of any intern, agent, assistant, employee, or other 6 
person, on part or full-time, or on commission, for the purpose of calling upon individuals or 7 
institutions by whose influence dead human bodies may be turned over to a particular funeral 8 
establishment; 9 
(6) The direct or indirect payment or offer of payment of a commission by any funeral 10 
establishment, funeral-establishment branch, or crematory disposition facility, its agents, assistants, 11 
or employees for the purpose of securing business; 12 
(7) Solicitation or acceptance by a licensed funeral director/embalmer, or the holder of a 13 
license as a funeral establishment, funeral-establishment branch, or crematory disposition facility, 14 
of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing a dead human 15 
body to be disposed of in any crematory disposition facility, mausoleum, or cemetery; 16 
(8) Using any funeral merchandise previously used in whole or in part without prior written 17 
permission of the person selecting and/or paying for the use of the merchandise; 18 
(9) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter; 19 
(10) Violation of any state law or rule and regulation affecting the handling, custody, care, 20 
transportation, or final disposition of dead human bodies; 21 
(11) Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining or renewing a license; 22 
(12) Refusing to properly release a dead human body to the custody of the person or entity 23 
who has the legal right to effect the release and authorized cost has been paid; 24 
(13) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice funeral directing and embalming 25 
or holding oneself out as a licensed funeral director/embalmer; 26 
(14) Failure to secure any required permit for removal or burial of dead human remains 27 
prior to interment or final disposition; 28 
(15) Knowingly making any false statement on a certificate of death; 29 
(16) Violation of chapter 33.1 of this title entitled “Funeral Service Contracts”; 30 
(17) Discriminating in services because of race, creed, color, or national origin; 31 
(18) Permitting non-funeral service licensees to make arrangements for a funeral prior to, 32 
or at, need unless exempted under chapter 33.1 of this title or a registered intern under the 33 
supervision of a licensee; 34   
 
 
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(19) Substantial or repeated violations of the rules and regulations of the Federal Trade 1 
Commission and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or for other violations 2 
deemed sufficient; provided, that before any license is revoked or suspended, the license holder 3 
shall have notice, in writing, of the charge or charges against him or her and shall have reasonable 4 
opportunity to be heard in his or her defense. 5 
(b) Any person whose certificate has been revoked or suspended may apply to have the 6 
certificate reissued, and the certificate shall be reissued to him or her upon a satisfactory showing 7 
that disqualification has ceased. 8 
5-33.2-24. Proper authority for funeral arrangements and disposition of human 9 
remains. 10 
Every licensed funeral director/embalmer, licensed funeral establishment, licensed 11 
crematory disposition facility, and cemetery shall comply with the following rules with respect to 12 
proper authority for funeral arrangements and disposition of human remains: 13 
(1) If a licensed funeral establishment is a party to a funeral service contract, as defined in 14 
§ 5-33.1-2, for the benefit of a deceased person, only when executed by the principal, him or herself, 15 
and the contract is still in effect at the time of that person’s death, the terms of that contract shall 16 
control the nature of the funeral goods and services to be provided; the manner in which funeral 17 
services are to be conducted for the deceased; and the final disposition of the deceased person’s 18 
remains to the full extent provided in that contract. When the contract is executed by the principal, 19 
him or herself, and specifies cremation or natural organic reduction as the chosen disposition, the 20 
contract is considered sufficient legal authorization for cremation or natural organic reduction. No 21 
licensed funeral establishment, licensed crematory disposition facility, or cemetery, nor any of its 22 
agents or employees, may cancel or materially alter any of the arrangements specified in that 23 
contract, even if requested to do so by a member of the deceased person’s family or a funeral 24 
planning agent designated pursuant to chapter 33.3 of this title unless compliance with the terms of 25 
the original contract would result in a violation of any applicable federal, state, or local law or 26 
regulation, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter. 27 
(2) To the extent that there is no funeral service contract in effect at the time of death for 28 
the benefit of the deceased person, indicating the wishes of the deceased person with respect to the 29 
nature of the funeral goods and services to be provided, the manner in which funeral services are 30 
to be conducted, or the final disposition of the deceased person’s remains, then the funeral 31 
establishment and its agents or employees shall follow the directions of the deceased person’s 32 
survivors in the following order of priority: 33 
(i) An agent designated pursuant to chapter 33.3 of this title, if any; 34   
 
 
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(ii) The surviving spouse or domestic partner of the deceased; 1 
(iii) The surviving adult children of the deceased; 2 
(iv) The surviving parent(s) of the deceased over the age of eighteen (18), or, if the 3 
deceased is a minor, and there is a custody order relative to that child, the custodial parent, after he 4 
or she signs an affidavit attesting that he or she does not know the whereabouts of the other parent; 5 
(v) The surviving brother(s) or sister(s) of the deceased; 6 
(vi) The surviving adult grandchildren of the deceased; 7 
(vii) The surviving adult niece(s) or nephew(s) of the deceased; 8 
(viii) The guardian of the person of the deceased at the time of his or her death. 9 
(3) All licensed funeral directors/embalmers, licensed funeral establishments, licensed 10 
crematories disposition facilities, cemeteries, and all their agents and employees shall be held 11 
harmless, and shall not be subject to civil suit, either as individual(s), partnership(s), or 12 
corporation(s), for complying with the provisions of this chapter. 13 
(4) For the purpose of this chapter, “domestic partner” shall be defined as a person who, 14 
prior to the decedent’s death, was in an exclusive, intimate, and committed relationship with the 15 
decedent and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications: 16 
(i) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to 17 
contract; 18 
(ii) Neither partner is married to anyone else; 19 
(iii) Partners were not related by blood to a degree that would prohibit marriage in the state 20 
of Rhode Island; 21 
(iv) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of 22 
death; and 23 
(v) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the 24 
following: 25 
(A) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract; 26 
(B) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence; 27 
(C) Two (2) of the following: 28 
(I) Joint ownership of motor vehicle; 29 
(II) Joint checking account; 30 
(III) Joint credit account; 31 
(IV) Joint lease; and/or 32 
(D) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent’s will, 33 
retirement contract, or life insurance. 34   
 
 
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SECTION 3. Section 23-1-54 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department 1 
of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2 
23-1-54. Fees payable to the department of health. 3 
Fees payable to the department shall be as follows: 4 
PROFESSION RIGL Section Description of Fee FEE 5 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(a) Renewal application $25.00 6 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(a) Renewal application:  7 
Manicuring  	Instructors and mani- $25.00 8 
    	curists   9 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(b) Minimum late renewal $25.00 10 
    	fee   11 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-10(b) Maximum late renewal $100.00 12 
    	fee   13 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-11[c] Application fee $25.00 14 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-11[c] Application fee: mani-  15 
    	curing   16 
    	Instructors and mani- $25.00 17 
    	curists   18 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-13 Demonstrator’s permit $90.00 19 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: initial $170.00 20 
Barbers/hairdressers 5-10-15 Shop license: renewal $170.00 21 
Veterinarians 5-25-10 Application fee $40.00 22 
Veterinarians 5-25-11 Examination fee $540.00 23 
Veterinarians 5-25-12(a) Renewal fee 	$580.00 24 
Veterinarians 5-25-12[c] Late renewal fee $120.00 25 
Podiatrists 5-29-7 Application fee $240.00 26 
Podiatrists 5-29-11 Renewal fee: minimum $240.00 27 
Podiatrists 5-29-11 Renewal fee: maximum $540.00 28 
Podiatrists 5-29-13 Limited registration $65.00 29 
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Limited registration:  30 
    	Academic faculty $240.00 31 
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Application fee:  32 
    	Renewal minimum $240.00 33 
Podiatrists 5-29-14 Application fee:  34   
 
 
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    	Renewal maximum $440.00 1 
Chiropractors 5-30-6 Examination fee: $210.00 2 
Chiropractors 5-30-7 Examination exemp- $210.00 3 
    	tion fee:   4 
Chiropractors 5-30-8(b) Exam Physiotherapy $210.00 5 
Chiropractors 5-30-8(b) Exam chiro and $210.00 6 
    	physiotherapy  7 
Chiropractors 5-30-12 Renewal fee 	$210.00 8 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-6(d) Dentist: application fee $965.00 9 
ists       10 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-6(d) Dental hygienist:  11 
ists   	application fee $65.00 12 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-6(d) Reexamination: dentist $965.00 13 
ists       14 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-6(d) Reexamination:  15 
ists   	hygienist 	$65.00 16 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-21(b) Reinstatement fee $90.00 17 
ists   	dentist   18 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-21(b) Reinstatement fee $90.00 19 
ists   	hygienist   20 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-21(c) Inactive status: dentist $220.00 21 
ists       22 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-21(c) Inactive status:  23 
ists   	hygienist 	$40.00 24 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-22 Limited registration $65.00 25 
ists       26 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-23[c] Limited reg:   27 
ists       28 
    	Academic faculty $965.00 29 
Dentists/dental hygien- 5-31.1-23[c] Limited reg:   30 
ists       31 
    	Academic faculty $500.00 32 
    	renewal   33 
Electrolysis 5-32-3 Application fee $25.00 34   
 
 
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Electrolysis 5-32-6(b) Renewal fee 	$25.00 1 
Electrolysis 5-32-7 Reciprocal license fee $25.00 2 
Electrolysis 5-32-17 Teaching license $25.00 3 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-12 Funeral establishment $120.00 4 
balmers  	license   5 
Funeral services estab-       6 
lishments      7 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-15 Renewal: funeral/direc- $90.00 8 
balmers  	tor   9 
Funeral services estab-   	embalmer 	$30.00 10 
lishments      11 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-12 Funeral branch ofc $90.00 12 
balmers  	license   13 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-13.1 Crematories Disposition  14 
balmers 	Facilities: applica- $120.00 15 
   	tion fee   16 
Funeral services estab-       17 
lishments      18 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-15 Renewal: funeral/direc-  19 
balmers  	tor   20 
Funeral Svcs establish-   	establishment 	$120.00 21 
ments      22 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-15 Additional branch  23 
balmers  	office   24 
Funeral services Estab-   	licenses 	$120.00 25 
lishments      26 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-15 Crematory Disposition facility renewal fee       27 
balmers               28 
Funeral svcs establish-     	$120.00 29 
ments      30 
Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-15 Late renewal fee  31 
balmers      32 
Funeral svcs establish-   	(All license types) $25.00 33 
ments      34   
 
 
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Funeral directors/em- 5-33.2-16(a) Intern registration fee  1 
balmers      2 
Funeral Services estab-     	$25.00 3 
lishments      4 
Nurses 5-34-12 RN Application fee $135.00 5 
Nurses 5-34-16 LPN Application fee $45.00 6 
Nurses 5-34-19 Renewal fee: RN $135.00 7 
Nurses 5-34-19 Renewal fee: LPN $45.00 8 
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP application fee $80.00 9 
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP renewal fee $80.00 10 
Nurses 5-34-37 RNP prescriptive privi- $65.00 11 
    	leges   12 
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec appli- $80.00 13 
    	cation   14 
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec $80.00 15 
    	renewal   16 
Nurses 5-34-40.3 Clin nurse spec Rx $65.00 17 
    	privilege   18 
Nurse anesthetists 5-34.2-4(a) CRNA application fee $80.00 19 
Nurse anesthetists 5-34.2-4(b) CRNA renewal fee $80.00 20 
Optometrists 5-35.1-4 Application fee $280.00 21 
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Renewal fee 	$280.00 22 
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Late fee 	$90.00 23 
Optometrists 5-35.1-7 Reactivation of license $65.00 24 
    	fee   25 
Optometrists 5-35.1-19(b) Violations of section $650.00 26 
Optometrists 5-35.1-20 Violations of chapter $260.00 27 
Opticians 5-35.2-3 Application fee $30.00 28 
Physicians 5-37-2 Application fee $1,090.00 29 
Physicians 5-37-2 Re-examination fee $1,090.00 30 
Physicians 5-37-10(b) Late renewal fee $170.00 31 
Physicians 5-37-16 Limited registration $65.00 32 
    	fee   33 
Physicians 5-37-16.1 Ltd reg: academic $600.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 13 of 24 
    	faculty   1 
Physicians 5-37-16.1 Ltd reg: academic  2 
    	Faculty renewal $170.00 3 
Acupuncture 5-37.2-10 Application fee $310.00 4 
Acupuncture 5-37.2-13(4) Acupuncture assistant $310.00 5 
    	Licensure fee 	$170.00 6 
Social workers 5-39.1-9 Application fee $70.00 7 
Social workers 5-39.1-9 Renewal fee 	$70.00 8 
Physical therapists 5-40-8 Application fee $155.00 9 
Physical therapists 5-40-8.1 Application: physical $50.00 10 
    	therapy assistants  11 
Physical therapists 5-40-10(a) Renewal fee:   12 
    	Physical therapists $155.00 13 
Physical therapists 5-40-10(a) Renewal fee: Physical  14 
    	therapy   15 
    	assistants 	$50.00 16 
Physical therapists 5-40-10[c] Late renewals $50.00 17 
Occupational thera- 5-40.1-12(2) Renewal fee 	$140.00 18 
pists       19 
Occupational thera- 5-40.1-12(5) Late renewal fee $50.00 20 
pists       21 
Occupational thera- 5-40.1-12(b) Reactivation fee $140.00 22 
pists       23 
Occupational thera- 5-40.1-13 Application fee $140.00 24 
pists       25 
Psychologists 5-44-12 Application fee $230.00 26 
Psychologists 5-44-13 Temporary permit $120.00 27 
Psychologists 5-44-15[c] Renewal fee 	$230.00 28 
Psychologists 5-44-15(e) Late renewal fee $50.00 29 
Nursing home adminis- 5-45-10 Renewal fee 	$160.00 30 
trators      31 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-1(14) Speech lang support  32 
diologists  	personnel:   33 
    	late filing 	$90.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 14 of 24 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(a) Application fee: Audiol- $65.00 1 
diologists  	ogist   2 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(a) Application fee:  3 
diologists      4 
    	Speech Pathologist $145.00 5 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(a) Renewal fee: Audiolo- $65.00 6 
diologists  	gist   7 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(a) Renewal fee: Speech $145.00 8 
diologists  	Pathologist   9 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(a) Provisional license:  10 
diologists  	renewal fee 	$65.00 11 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(b) Late renewal fee $50.00 12 
diologists      13 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(d)(1) Reinstatement fee:  14 
diologists  	audiologist 	$65.00 15 
Speech pathologist/au- 5-48-9(d)(1) Reinstatement fee:  16 
diologists  	audiologist 	$65.00 17 
    	speech pathologists $145.00 18 
    	personnel: late filing $65.00 19 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-6(a) License endorsement  20 
fitters      21 
    	Examination fee $25.00 22 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-8(b) Temporary permit fee $25.00 23 
fitters      24 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-8(d) Temporary permit $35.00 25 
fitters  	renewal fee   26 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-11(a)(1) License fee 	$25.00 27 
fitters      28 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-11(b) License renewal fee $25.00 29 
fitters      30 
Hearing aid dealers/ 5-49-11[c] License renewal late $25.00 31 
fitters  	fee   32 
Physician assistants 5-54-9(4) Application fee $110.00 33 
Physician assistants 5-54-11(b) Renewal fee 	$110.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 15 of 24 
Orthotics/prosthetic 5-59.1-5 Application fee $120.00 1 
practice      2 
Orthotics/prosthetic 5-59.1-12 Renewal fee 	$120.00 3 
practice      4 
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Application fee $60.00 5 
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Renewal fee 	$60.00 6 
Athletic trainers 5-60-11 Late renewal fee $25.00 7 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-16 Application fee: Mar-  8 
ors/   	riage/   9 
Marriage and family   	Family therapist $130.00 10 
therapists      11 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-16 Application fee: Mental  12 
ors/       13 
Marriage and family   	Health counselors $70.00 14 
therapists      15 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-16 Reexamination fee:  16 
ors/       17 
Marriage and family   	Marriage/family thera- $130.00 18 
therapists  	pist   19 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-16 Reexamination fee:  20 
ors/       21 
Marriage and family   	Mental health counsel- $70.00 22 
therapists  	ors   23 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-17(a) Renewal fee: Marriage/  24 
ors/       25 
Marriage and Family   	Family therapist $130.00 26 
therapists      27 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-17(a) Renewal fee:   28 
ors/       29 
Marriage and Family   	Mental health coun- $50.00 30 
therapist  	selor   31 
Mental health counsel- 5-63.2-17(b) Late renewal fee:  32 
ors/       33 
Marriage and Family   	Marriage and family $90.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 16 of 24 
therapist  	therapist   1 
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-6(b) Application fee $75.00 2 
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-7 Graduate status:  3 
    	Application fee: $75.00 4 
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-8 Renewal fee 	$75.00 5 
Dieticians/nutritionists 5-64-8 Reinstatement fee $75.00 6 
Radiologic technolo- 5-68.1-10 Application fee maxi- $190.00 7 
gists   	mum   8 
Licensed chemical de- 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 9 
pendency professionals       10 
Licensed chemical de- 5-69-9 Renewal fee 	$75.00 11 
pendency professionals       12 
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 13 
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Application fee $75.00 14 
dependency clinical su-       15 
pervisor      16 
Licensed chemical 5-69-9 Renewal fee 	$75.00 17 
dependency clinical su-       18 
pervisor      19 
Deaf interpreters 5-71-8(a)(3) License fee maximum $25.00 20 
Deaf interpreters 5-71-8(a)(3) License renewal fee $25.00 21 
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(1) In-state milk processor $160.00 22 
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(2) Out-of-state milk pro- $160.00 23 
    	cessor   24 
Milk producers 21-2-7(g)(3) Milk distributors $160.00 25 
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(1) In-state wholesale $550.00 26 
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(2) Out-of-state wholesale $160.00 27 
Frozen desserts 21-9-3(3) Retail frozen dess pro- $160.00 28 
    	cessors   29 
Meats 21-11-4 Wholesale 	$160.00 30 
Meats 21-11-4 Retail 	$40.00 31 
Shellfish packing 21-14-2 License fee:   32 
houses      33 
    	Shipper/reshipper $320.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 17 of 24 
Shellfish packing 21-14-2 License fee:   1 
houses      2 
    	Shucker packer/ $390.00 3 
    	repacker   4 
Non-alcoholic bottled 21-23-2 Bottler permit  5 
beverages, drinks &     	$550.00 6 
juices      7 
Non-alcoholic bottled 21-23-2 Bottle apple cider fee  8 
beverages, drinks and     	$60.00 9 
juices      10 
Farm home food manu- 21-27-6.1(4) Registration fee $65.00 11 
facturers      12 
Cottage Food Manu- 21-27-6.2(4) Registration fee $65.00 13 
facturers      14 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(1) Food processors whole- $300.00 15 
    	sale   16 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(2) Food processors retail $120.00 17 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Food service establish-  18 
    	ments   19 
    	50 seats or less $160.00 20 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Food service establish-  21 
    	ments   22 
    	more than 50 seats $240.00 23 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Mobile food service $100.00 24 
    	units   25 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Industrial caterer or  26 
    	food vending   27 
    	Machine commissary $280.00 28 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(3) Cultural heritage  29 
    	educational   30 
    	Facility 	$80.00 31 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine  32 
    	Location   33 
    	3 units or less 	$50.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 18 of 24 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine  1 
    	Location 4-10 units $100.00 2 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(4) Vending Machine  3 
    	Location = 11 units $120.00 4 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Mkt   5 
    	1-2 cash registers $120.00 6 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Market   7 
    	3-5 cash registers $240.00 8 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(5) Retail Market = 6  9 
    	Cash registers $510.00 10 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(6) Retail food peddler $100.00 11 
Food businesses 21-27-10(e)(7) Food warehouses $190.00 12 
Food businesses 21-27-11.2 Certified food safety $50.00 13 
    	mgr   14 
License verification fee 23-1-16.1 All license types $50.00 15 
Tattoo and body pierc- 23-1-39 Annual registration  16 
ing   	fee:   17 
    	Person 	$90.00 18 
Tattoo and body pierc- 23-1-39 Annual registration  19 
ing   	fee:   20 
    	establishment 	$90.00 21 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(1) Certificate of birth,  22 
    	fetal death,   23 
    	death, marriage, birth,  24 
    	or   25 
    	Certification that such  26 
    	record   27 
    	Cannot be found $20.00 28 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(1) Each duplicate of  29 
    	certificate   30 
    	of birth, fetal death,  31 
    	death, marriage,  32 
    	birth, or certification  33 
    	that such record  34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 19 of 24 
    	cannot be found $15.00 1 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(2) Each additional  2 
    	calendar year   3 
    	Search, if within 3  4 
    	months of   5 
    	original search and if  6 
    	receipt of original  7 
    	search presented $2.00 8 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(3) Expedited service $7.00 9 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(4) Adoptions, legitima-  10 
    	tions, or   11 
    	Paternity determina- $15.00 12 
    	tions   13 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(5) Authorized corrections,  14 
    	Alterations, and addi- $10.00 15 
    	tions   16 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(6) Filing of delayed record  17 
    	and   18 
    	Examination of docu-  19 
    	mentary   20 
    	Proof 	$20.00 21 
Vital records 23-3-25(a)(6) Issuance of certified  22 
    	copy   23 
    	of a delayed record $20.00 24 
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Autopsy reports $40.00 25 
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Cremation or natural organic reduction    26 
 certificates  and statistics $30.00 27 
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Testimony in civil  28 
    	suits:   29 
    	Minimum/day $650.00 30 
Medical Examiner 23-4-13 Testimony in civil  31 
    	suits:   32 
    	Maximum/day $3,250.00 33 
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Annual fee: ambulance  34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 20 of 24 
technicians      1 
    	service maximum $540.00 2 
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Annual fee: vehicle  3 
technicians  	license   4 
    	maximum 	$275.00 5 
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10[c] Triennial fee: EMT  6 
technicians  	license   7 
    	maximum 	$120.00 8 
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10(c)(2) Exam fee maximum: $120.00 9 
technicians  	EMT   10 
Emergency medical 23-4.1-10(c)(2) Vehicle inspection  11 
technicians      12 
    	Maximum 	$190.00 13 
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(a) Clinical laboratory  14 
    	license   15 
    	per specialty 	$650.00 16 
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(a) Laboratory station $650.00 17 
    	license   18 
Clinical laboratories 23-16.2-4(b) Permit fee 	$70.00 19 
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Hospital: base fee20 
 	$16,900.00 21 
    	annual   22 
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Hospital: annual per $120.00 23 
    	bed fee   24 
Health care facilities 23-17-38 ESRD: annual fee $3,900.00 25 
Health care facilities 23-17-38 Home nursing-care/  26 
    	home-   27 
    	care providers $650.00 28 
Health care facilities 23-17-38 OACF: annual fee $650.00 29 
Assisted living resi- 23-17.4-15.2(d) License application fee: $220.00 30 
dences/      31 
administrators      32 
Assisted living resi- 23-17.4-15.2(d) License renewal fee: $220.00 33 
dences/      34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 21 of 24 
administrators      1 
Assisted living resi- 23-17.4-31 Annual facility fee: base $330.00 2 
dences      3 
Assisted living resi- 23-17.4-31 Annual facility per bed $70.00 4 
dences      5 
Nursing assistant reg- 23-17.9-3 Application:   6 
istration  	competency   7 
    	evaluation training  8 
    	program maximum $325.00 9 
Nursing assistant reg- 23-17.9-5 Application fee $35.00 10 
istration      11 
Nursing assistant reg- 23-17.9-5 Exam fee: skills profi- $170.00 12 
istration  	ciency   13 
Nursing assistant reg- 23-17.9-6 Registration fee $35.00 14 
istration      15 
Nursing assistant reg- 23-17.9-7 Renewal fee 	$35.00 16 
istration      17 
Sanitarians 23-19.3-5(a) Registration fee $25.00 18 
Sanitarians 23-19.3-5(b) Registration renewal $25.00 19 
Massage therapy 23-20.8-3(e) Massage therapist appl $65.00 20 
    	fee   21 
Massage therapy 23-20.8-3(e) Massage therapist $65.00 22 
    	renewal fee   23 
Recreational facilities 23-21-2 Application fee $160.00 24 
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Application license:  25 
    	first pool 	$250.00 26 
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Additional pool  27 
    	fee at same location $75.00 28 
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Seasonal application  29 
    	license:   30 
    	first pool 	$150.00 31 
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Seasonal additional  32 
    	pool   33 
    	fee at same location $75.00 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 22 of 24 
Swimming pools 23-22-6 Year-round license  1 
    	for non-profit 	$25.00 2 
Swimming pools 23-22-10 Duplicate license $2.00 3 
Swimming pools 23-22-12 Penalty for violations $50.00 4 
Respiratory care prac- 23-39-11 Application fee $60.00 5 
titioners      6 
Respiratory care prac- 23-39-11 Renewal fee 	$60.00 7 
titioners      8 
SECTION 2. Section 23-3-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-3 entitled "Vital Records" 9 
is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 
23-3-18. Permits. 11 
(a) The funeral director, his or her duly authorized agent, or another person acting as a duly 12 
authorized agent, who first assumes custody of a dead body or fetus shall prepare a burial-transit 13 
permit prior to final disposition or removal from the state of the body or fetus and within seven (7) 14 
calendar days after death. 15 
(b) The burial-transit permit shall be signed by the funeral director and by the certifying 16 
physician as designated in § 23-3-16(c). 17 
(c) A burial-transit permit issued under the law of another state which accompanies a dead 18 
body or fetus brought into this state shall be authority for final disposition of the body or fetus in 19 
this state. 20 
(d) A permit for disinterment and re-interment shall be required prior to disinterment of a 21 
dead body or fetus except as authorized by regulation or otherwise provided by law. The permit 22 
shall be issued by the local registrar of vital records at the place of disinterment to a licensed funeral 23 
director, embalmer, his or her duly authorized agent, or another person acting as a duly authorized 24 
agent, upon proper application. 25 
(e)(1) The body of a deceased person shall not be cremated within An operator of a 26 
disposition facility shall not cremate or process by means of natural organic reduction or allow the 27 
cremation or processing by means of natural organic reduction of a dead human body until the 28 
passage of at least twenty-four (24) hours after his or her death unless he or she dies of a contagious 29 
or infectious disease. The body shall not be received or cremated or processed by means of natural 30 
organic reduction by any corporation authorized to cremate or conduct the process of natural 31 
organic reduction of the bodies of the dead until its officers have received the burial permit required 32 
by law before burial, and a cremation certificate or natural organic reduction certificate issued by 33 
the Rhode Island office of state medical examiners. A cremation certificate or natural organic 34   
 
 
LC002754 - Page 23 of 24 
reduction certificate shall be issued only if the office of state medical examiners determines that 1 
the cause and manner of death is such that no further examination or judicial inquiry concerning 2 
the cause and manner of death is necessary. 3 
(2) The cremation certificate or natural organic reduction certificate issued to the funeral 4 
director by the medical examiner, in duplicate, shall accompany the body to the crematory 5 
disposition facility. The crematory disposition facility shall retain the duplicate copy and mail the 6 
original copy to the state division of vital records. 7 
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 8 
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LC002754 
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LC002754 - Page 24 of 24 
EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FUNERAL DIRECTOR/EMB ALMER 
AND FUNERAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS 
***
This act would provide for the operation and duties of natural organic reduction for the 1 
contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. A disposition facility would be used 2 
for either cremation or natural organic reduction.  3 
This act would take effect upon passage. 4 
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LC002754 
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