Panel approves morticians’ rule changes, including fee increases to restore board balance

Boise — The Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee approved pending rules from the Idaho State Board of Morticians (docket 24‑0801‑2401), including revised trainee requirements, changes to continuing education and a proposed increase and shift to a biannual licensing fee structure to restore the board’s cash reserves.

John Price, bureau chief for the Occupational Licensing Bureau and executive officer for the Idaho State Board of Morticians, told the committee the rewrite removed language duplicative of statute, clarified supervisory and documentation requirements for resident trainees, and moved an inspection requirement to before initial licensure. He said the board proposes raising fees by roughly 20% and converting annual licenses to a biannual schedule; a funeral director annual license currently $85 would become $170 every other year and, with a 20% increase, would be proposed at $200 under the new structure.

Price said the board’s fund balance was negative $59,000 as of Sept. 30 of the prior year and that the shortfall resulted from no fee increases since 2002 and rising investigative and disciplinary costs. He said other licensing boards currently loaned funds to allow continued operations until the board’s balance recovers.

Senator Ward Engleking moved to approve the docket; Senator Leahy seconded. The committee took a roll call vote: eight senators voted aye and one senator (Vice Chairman Lenny) voted nay. The motion carried 8–1; the committee approved the pending rule as final. The rules include explicit fee tables and a plan to transition licensees onto a biannual renewal cycle while attempting to avoid revenue shortfalls during the transition.

Committee members asked about repayment of inter‑board loans and how the two‑year renewal schedule would be phased so revenue would remain stable; Price described using staggered renewal years by birth year to avoid a single‑year cliff.