SPONSOR: Porter
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 11 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 8 to 0.
This bill modifies the process for obtaining a student license for the practice of embalming. Requirements include being enrolled in a funeral service education program. Upon application approval by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors a student licensee may with supervision assist in the embalming process.
The requirements for full licensure are outlined in the bill and include demonstration that the student licensee has completed an apprenticeship of no less than six months and has personally embalmed at least 25 dead human bodies and has passed the specified exams. Under the provisions of this bill, a student licensee shall have five years to complete the requirements for full licensure (Section 333.041, RSMo).
This bill addresses the practice of funeral directing and provides requirements for provisional licensure, and outlines the requirements that must be submitted to the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for licensure. Requirements include qualifying apprenticeships or completion of an accredited program of funeral service education and passing the National Board or State Board Arts examination and the Missouri Law Examination. Apprenticeships must include at least 15 hours per week of supervised duties, and at least 10 funeral services arranged and conducted. Limited licensure for Funeral Director requirements are outlined in the bill, and permit licensees to work in funeral establishments licensed only for cremation, including transportation of dead human bodies (Section 332.042).
The bill adds requirements to funeral establishment owners that require the owner or operator to have a Funeral Establishment License. Beginning November 1, 2021, each funeral establishment licensed shall also be a licensed provider for preneed funeral contracts (Section 333.061).
This bill is similar to HCS HB 724 (2021).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that all of the interested parties agree that these changes would be in the best interests of consumers and those working in the industry. The sponsor has worked with interested parties to address everyone's needs. Testifying for the bill were Representative Porter; and Donald Otto, Missouri Funeral Directors Association.
OPPONENTS: Arnie C. Dienoff submitted written testimony in opposition to this bill.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: