MS HB729

Licensed funeral directors and funeral establishment employees may request life insurance information about a deceased person by providing the insurer with a death notification, written authorization from the person directing body disposition, and group policy affiliation if applicable

Life insurance companies must respond within 2 business days with policy existence, beneficiary names, outstanding liens/loans, benefit amounts, and whether the policy was reinstated within the last 24 months

If an insurer fails to respond within 2 business days, the requestor may file the matter as a consumer complaint with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection

Funeral providers must make reasonable efforts within 100 hours to locate beneficiaries and notify them in bold writing that "THE BENEFICIARY OF A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY HAS NO LEGAL DUTY OR OBLIGATION TO SPEND ANY OF THAT MONEY ON THE FUNERAL, DEBTS, OR OBLIGATIONS OF THE DECEASED"

Funeral licensees who make false information requests or fail to notify beneficiaries face disciplinary action including potential license suspension or revocation, with monetary penalties ranging from $500 for first violations to $5,000 for third and subsequent violations