The bill amends the existing laws regarding the certificate for benefits for burial associations, specifically addressing the payment percentages to substitute service-providing funeral homes based on membership data and the proximity to the contract funeral home. It clarifies that for memberships issued on or after July 19, 1987, if a funeral service is performed by a licensed funeral home other than the contract funeral home, the benefit will be paid at 100% of the certificate's face amount. Additionally, it introduces new provisions for memberships issued before July 1, 1967, and between July 1, 1967, and August 5, 1976, establishing minimum payment rates of 70% and 80%, respectively, for services performed outside the burial association's service area.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a licensed funeral home other than the contract funeral home performs the service and the billing statement reflects a credit for the full burial association certificate amount, the member is considered whole, and no additional funds or reimbursements will be provided to the family. It also grants discretion to the licensed servicing funeral home regarding whether to retain or return disbursed burial association funds to the deceased member's family, clarifying that any payments made to the family are the responsibility of the servicing funeral home, not the burial association or its contract funeral home.

Statutes affected:
SB 98: 23-78-112(b), 23-78-112
Act 81: 23-78-112(b), 23-78-112