SB2805 Summary

• Amends the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code to expand the Secretary's 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 cremated remains at cemeteries when engaged to provide funeral services.

• Eliminates automatic continuing education exemption for funeral directors with 40+ years of practice; instead allows Department to grant limited exemptions for individuals with advanced age, health issues, or other extreme circumstances.

• Increases maximum civil penalties for violations from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation and adds 15 new grounds for disciplinary action, including failure to complete written statements of services, improper handling of Certificates of Death, and various professional misconduct violations.

• Establishes new procedural requirements including appointment of hearing officers, consent orders, cease and desist orders, conflict of interest provisions, and limits disciplinary actions to 5 years after alleged violations occur.