MS HB826

Authorizes licensed funeral directors and funeral establishment employees to request information about a deceased person's life insurance from insurers by providing a death notification, written authorization from the person directing disposition, and group affiliation details if applicable.

Requires insurers to promptly inform funeral service providers of the existence of life insurance contracts, beneficiaries on record, outstanding liens or loans, benefit amounts payable, and whether the policy was reinstated within the last 24 months, and to provide a claim form.

Allows funeral service providers to refer requests to the Office of Consumer Protection if they do not receive timely responses from insurers, treating such referrals as consumer complaints.

Requires funeral service providers to make reasonable efforts to locate beneficiaries within 100 hours of receiving insurance information and must inform beneficiaries in bold print that they have no legal obligation to use policy proceeds for funeral expenses or debts.

Establishes that funeral directors or employees who make false requests or fail to comply with notification requirements commit unprofessional conduct and are deemed unfit to practice; effective July 1, 2021.