MORTUARY SCIENCE LICENSURE S.B. 651 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
ON THIRD READING
Senate Bill 651 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
CONTENT
The bill would amend Article 18 (Mortuary Science) of the Occupational Code to do the following:
-- Permit a funeral establishment to continue to use the licensed establishment name after the death or retirement of a member, officer, or director if certain requirements were met.
-- Prescribe new requirements that an individual wishing to be licensed to practice mortuary science would have to meet in order to receive a license.
-- Require a funeral establishment to report a change in ownership or location to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) within 30 days of the change.
-- Require a licensee to successfully complete at least four hours of eligible continuing education courses in each year of a license cycle, beginning the license cycle after October 31, 2023.
-- Require at least two of the four hours to involve one or more specified subjects.
-- Prescribe requirements for the ownership and management of a funeral establishment.
-- Permit LARA to promulgate rules to establish requirements for the licensure, operation, and management of a funeral establishment.
The bill also would amend Article 2 (Administration) of the Code to allow LARA to enter into an agreement with a statewide funeral service trade organization to provide an electronic continuing education tracking system that would provide an electronic record of the continuing education courses, classes, or programs completed by individuals licensed under Article 18.
MCL 339.210 et al. Legislative Analyst: Stephen Jackson
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minor, negative fiscal impact on the Department. The bill would require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to add a continuing education (CE) requirement to the renewal process for mortuary science licensure. As of April 1, 2016, there were 2,060 licensees in Michigan. The Department would have to develop a CE tracking system for license renewal applicants and determine which CE courses qualified for credit. This could potentially require additional staff. In the alternative, LARA could contract with a statewide funeral service trade organization to perform those duties. Additionally, LARA could incur minor costs to promulgate rules, as the bill would authorize.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.
Date Completed: 5-16-18 Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.