HB72 Summary

• Amends Sections 34-13-23 and 34-13-27 of the Alabama Code to grant the Alabama Board of Funeral Service authority to acquire, hold, and convey real property in its own name through purchase, gift, lease, or other lawful means.

• Creates the Funeral Board Property Acquisition Fund within the State Treasury to finance real property acquisitions and improvements, with funds held in trust by the board and not reverting to the State General Fund at fiscal year end.

• Requires the executive director to transfer from the Alabama State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Fund to the property acquisition fund a board-determined amount by October 1, 2020, then annually transfer between 3-7 percent of the board's prior fiscal year receipts.

• Removes previous language requiring board expenses to never exceed board receipts, providing financial flexibility while maintaining that board operations shall not be an expense to the state.

• Effective August 1, 2020, following gubernatorial approval; passed by the House 100-0 on February 20, 2020.