Texas Senate Bill SB221

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the composition and employees of the Texas Funeral Service Commission.

Impact

If passed, SB 221 will consolidate the governance structure of the Texas Funeral Service Commission, which oversees the licensing and regulation of funeral directors and embalmers. This amendment is expected to increase the operational efficiency of the commission by ensuring a staggered term system, thereby reducing the frequency of entirely new memberships and promoting experience among its members. Additionally, the suggested changes will contribute to a more systematically structured regulatory environment for funeral services across Texas, aligning the commission more closely with contemporary practices in other regulatory bodies.

Summary

Senate Bill 221, introduced by Senator Zaffirini and co-authored by Representative Cortez, seeks to amend regulations concerning the Texas Funeral Service Commission. The bill proposes adjustments to the composition of the commission's membership and the length of their terms. Specifically, it seeks to ensure that members serve staggered six-year terms, with one-third of the members' terms expiring in each odd-numbered year. This aims to enhance continuity and stability within the commission while promoting effective oversight of the funeral services in Texas.

Contention

While SB 221 appears to have broad support, discussions around the bill indicate there may be differing opinions regarding its necessity and implications. Some stakeholders question whether modifying the term lengths and membership structure is a substantial improvement or merely a procedural adjustment that may not significantly enhance the commission's regulatory capabilities. Such debates reflect the broader concerns over regulatory effectiveness and the balance of oversight versus accessibility in professional licensing, particularly in sensitive fields like funeral services.