HB5159 Summary

• Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code to grant the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation authority to remove Board members for misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, or failure to attend 2 consecutive meetings.

• Requires licensed funeral directors and embalmers to personally witness burial or sealing of above-ground depositories at cemeteries, with provisions for written notice to the Department if cemetery authorities prevent compliance.

• Removes the blanket exemption from continuing education for funeral directors with 40+ years of practice, but allows the Department to grant limited exemptions for those with advanced age, health issues, or other extreme conditions.

• Expands disciplinary grounds and penalties, including new violations for failing to comply with required activities (proper authorization, price disclosure, written service statements, cemetery witnessing), providing fines up to $10,000 per violation.

• Establishes procedures for cease and desist orders, consent orders, hearing officers, and requires applicants/licensees to maintain current address of record with the Department.