Relating to the licensure of crematory operators and funeral establishments, and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to the licensure of crematory operators and funeral establishments. The bill requires the board of mortuary science (board) to adopt rules for the licensure of crematory operators, which shall require an applicant to complete a course of study of not less than hours of education and practical instruction in the operation of crematory equipment. The bill also requires the board to grant a crematory operator license to a funeral director who submits an application to the board and who has not had a funeral director’s license revoked or suspended by the board within the two years immediately preceding the date of application. The bill allows a person licensed as a crematory operator or funeral director to operate a cremation establishment but requires a person who operates a funeral establishment to be licensed as a funeral director. The bill makes conforming changes by making prohibitions and penalties that currently apply to funeral directors also apply to crematory operators. The bill makes the payment of anything of value to secure business for a crematory operator a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. A person who falsely makes an affidavit in the application for a crematory establishment license is subject to all penalties prescribed for making a false affidavit.