The bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of funeral service regulations in Montana by dissolving the Board of Funeral Services and transferring its responsibilities to the Department of Labor and Industry. It establishes a new licensing framework for funeral directors, which includes specific qualifications and a licensing fee, while also revising apprenticeship requirements. The bill eliminates the need for preneed financial reporting to the Department and mandates that certifiers of death certificates register on the electronic death registration system. Additionally, it clarifies the process for transferring death certificates to mortuaries or crematories and introduces new definitions and operational standards for mortuaries and crematories, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public health and safety.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to update reporting requirements and fees, particularly concerning public health and coroner duties. It replaces references to the "board" with "department," indicating a shift in oversight authority. The bill also establishes new requirements for coroners and deputy coroners, including registration on the electronic death registration system, and modifies the fee structure for county clerks. It introduces a provision for fines on medical professionals who fail to complete death certifications within a specified timeframe and repeals several sections related to the Board of Funeral Service, streamlining the regulatory framework and enhancing accountability within the funeral services industry.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5-11-222, 7-4-2631, 7-4-2901, 7-4-2904, 35-21-812, 37-1-401, 37-3-305, 37-3-307, 37-8-409, 37-19-101, 37-19-204, 37-19-302, 37-19-303, 37-19-304, 37-19-307, 37-19-308, 37-19-315, 37-19-401, 37-19-402, 37-19-403, 37-19-702, 37-19-703, 37-19-705, 37-19-708, 37-19-807, 37-19-808, 37-19-814, 37-19-815, 37-19-816, 37-19-822, 37-19-823, 37-19-827, 37-19-831, 50-15-109, 50-15-403