The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau Advisory Committee convened on May 22, 2024, to address several key issues affecting the licensing and regulatory processes within California's funeral and cemetery industries. The meeting began with a discussion on the noticeable decline in the number of licensed professionals, which has dropped from approximately 13,500 to just over 11,000. Bureau Chief acknowledged the stagnation in license renewals and expressed concern over the potential reasons behind this trend.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on clarifying the requirements for live scan fingerprinting for applicants seeking funeral director licenses. It was noted that recent applicants were confused by inconsistent instructions regarding the necessity of resubmitting live scan services if their previous submission was over 12 months old. The Bureau Chief confirmed that all applicants must be fingerprinted for each new license, regardless of any existing licenses they may hold. This clarification aims to resolve common deficiencies in the licensing process.

The committee also discussed the ongoing development of the crematory manager examination, with the final workshop scheduled for June 2024. The new exam is expected to be released shortly thereafter. Additionally, the committee outlined plans for the next funeral director examination, which will commence in July 2025.

In reviewing enforcement statistics for the first half of the fiscal year, the committee reported a total of 555 mandatory inspections and noted an increase in consumer complaints, which reached 560. This rise in complaints was attributed to several high-profile incidents that garnered media attention. The committee also reported a decrease in citations issued, with 64 citations recorded, and confirmed that they are on track to meet inspection mandates by the end of the fiscal year.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that the annual report, which includes comprehensive statistics and updates, is now available on the Department of Consumer Affairs website. The Bureau Chief emphasized the importance of clarity and accessibility in the application process, indicating ongoing efforts to improve communication and streamline procedures for applicants.