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Committee advances split licensure for funeral directors and embalmers; expands board powers
Summary
Senate Bill 239, carried by Senator Williams for Senate Pro Tem Walker, was advanced after testimony that splitting licenses would modernize Georgia law, preserve education/apprenticeship standards, limit non‑licensed actors selling services, and give the state board subpoena and investigatory authority; the committee approved an amendment limiting board terms and sent the bill to full committee.
Senate Bill 239, presented by Senator Williams, would separate the funeral‑director license from the embalmer license while preserving existing educational and apprenticeship requirements. The author said the split follows changes in about 26 states where a separate funeral‑director license exists and noted that federal consumer‑protection requirements already require written funeral‑service contracts.
Under the substitute, applicants for funeral director licensure must still complete a program of funeral service (associate's degree or equivalent), a minimum period of apprenticeship hours, and pass an examination; the bill also clarifies that anyone actively participating in funeral‑directing duties (including consumer consulting) must hold an appropriate license to curb non‑licensed operators selling services.
The bill would expand the State Board of Funeral Service's enforcement tools by allowing subpoenas, compelling attendance of witnesses and production of records, and by setting board composition (seven members with a mix of funeral directors, embalmers and one public member). It would also address unclaimed cremated remains by permitting funeral homes, after notice to the authorizing agent and a waiting period, to inter, scatter or otherwise lawfully dispose of unclaimed cremains with documentation; current $100 cost caps were discussed.
Representative Schrecker successfully moved an amendment to set board terms to four years and limit members to two terms; the amendment passed by voice vote. The committee then voted to "do pass" the bill to full committee and scheduled it for the 2:00 p.m. session.
