House Bill 554 Summary

• Creates provisional funeral director licenses for applicants with an undergraduate degree (any field), Associate of Applied Science degree, or funeral directing diploma, allowing practice under supervision for up to two years with annual $250 renewal fees.

• Extends validity period for funeral service examinations passed on or before October 1, 2018, from three years to five years for licensure purposes.

• Requires crematory licensees offering at-need cremation services to comply with federal Funeral Industry Practices standards (16 C.F.R. § 453), and clarifies permit requirements for cremating bodies when death occurred outside North Carolina.

• Prohibits cremation of bodies with unapproved pacemakers or defibrillators unless removed first; funeral directors and crematory licensees must ensure removal when notified of such implants.

• Grants civil liability immunity to physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners for death certifications completed in good faith using best clinical judgment, unless conduct is wanton or intentional.