Rules Committee advances funeral-director licensing bill, sends shrimp bill and resolution to the floor

Senator Williams told the Senate Rules Committee that SB239 would "split the license like it used to be, so you don't have to be a licensed embalmer to be a funeral director," a change he said would allow licensed funeral directors from other states to seek reciprocity in Georgia.

The committee met briefly and voted to advance three items: SB239 (funeral-director licensing), House Bill 117 (the "shrimp bill") and SR563 (a Senate resolution the chair said will be placed on the floor for Monday). The chair called for a motion; a motion to "do pass" on SB239, HB117 and SR563 was made (mover not specified in the transcript) and was seconded by Senator Rhett. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the chair stated, "Motion carries unanimous." The transcript contains no roll-call tally.

Williams said the change in SB239 would help people moving to Georgia because "there's 26 other states that this now is in effect," enabling reciprocity for funeral directors licensed elsewhere. He framed the bill as restoring a prior licensing arrangement.

No amendments or substantive floor debate were recorded in the committee on SB239. The chair indicated the items sent to the floor will be considered on Monday. The meeting then adjourned.

The transcript does not identify the member who made the motion by name, and it does not include a roll-call vote; the record shows only a voice vote and the chair's statement that the motion carried unanimously.