MS HB697

Authorizes licensed funeral directors and funeral establishment employees to request life insurance information for deceased persons by providing a death notification, written authorization from the person directing body disposition, and group policy affiliation if applicable

Requires insurance companies to promptly disclose policy existence, beneficiaries on record, outstanding liens or loans, benefit amounts payable, and whether the policy was reinstated within the last 24 months

Allows funeral service providers to refer unresponsive insurers to the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection as a consumer complaint

Mandates funeral providers to locate beneficiaries within 100 hours of receiving insurance information and notify them in bold print that beneficiaries have no legal obligation to spend life insurance proceeds on funeral costs or debts of the deceased

Classifies false information requests or failure to notify beneficiaries as unprofessional conduct, rendering the violator unfit to practice funeral service or funeral directing