House Bill 90

Chair's Name: Roger Williams

Committee: Regulated Industries

House Sponsor: Chuck Sims

HB 90 Changes regulations relating to how many caskets must be on display in a funeral home. The current law requires that 8 full caskets on display at the funeral establishment. This bill will allow for models, mock-ups, or sections to be on display as long as there are 8 caskets somewhere on the premises or which can be delivered within 24 hours.

The bill received a unanimous Do Pass recommendation from the Regulated Industries Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Willard's opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This legislation takes away the burden of displaying actual caskets and allows the display of models, mock-ups or sectionals of caskets. This provides funeral home directors with the opportunity to be more competitive by improving the attractiveness of their display rooms and by providing the customer with a greater selection.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

The driving force is to bring the law up to date (it has not been changed since 1940) and to allow funeral home directors to modernize and make display rooms more suitable.

THIS LEGISLATION:

�         Strengthens the Traditional Family Structure

This legislation allows funeral home directors to create a more comfortable atmosphere for families faced with tragedy and helps make the experience less traumatic.

�         Increases Personal Responsibility:

This bill allows funeral home directors to be more responsive to the needs of their customers.

Senate Changes:

The Senate added a new Section 1 dealing with reciprocity for licensed embalmers and funeral directors from other states. This language originated in HB 401, which was favorably reported by the House Regulated Industries Committee.