|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the regulation of funeral homes, cemeteries, and |
|
crematories. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 711.004, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (m) to read as follows: |
|
(m) If a removal of remains is made to correct an error by a |
|
cemetery organization, the cemetery organization is responsible |
|
for all costs involved in the removal and reinterment of the |
|
remains. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 711.012(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The Texas Funeral Service Commission may adopt rules, |
|
establish procedures, and prescribe forms to enforce and administer |
|
Sections 711.003, 711.008, 711.010, 711.011, 711.021-711.035, |
|
711.038, 711.0395, 711.041, 711.042, 711.061, and 711.062 relating |
|
to cemeteries that are not perpetual care cemeteries. |
|
SECTION 3. Section 711.038, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
|
(f) A cemetery organization may not resell the exclusive |
|
right of sepulture in a plot unless the exclusive right of sepulture |
|
has been reacquired by the cemetery organization. A sanction or |
|
other penalty may not be imposed on a cemetery organization that |
|
violates this subsection unless: |
|
(1) the state agency authorized to enforce this |
|
section provides the cemetery organization written notice of the |
|
violation; and |
|
(2) the cemetery organization does not correct the |
|
violation before the 91st day after the date on which the cemetery |
|
organization received the notice. |
|
SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 711, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 711.0395 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 711.0395. MULTIPLE INTERMENTS IN SAME PLOT. A |
|
cemetery organization may not make more than one interment in a plot |
|
unless each owner of the plot consents to the interment. |
|
SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 716, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 716.0035 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.0035. ACCEPTANCE OF REMAINS. A crematory |
|
establishment may accept deceased human remains for refrigeration |
|
before it receives authorization to cremate the remains under |
|
Subchapter B. |
|
SECTION 6. Section 716.051, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.051. CREMATION AUTHORIZATION. Except as |
|
[otherwise] provided by Section 716.054 [in this chapter], a |
|
crematory establishment may not cremate deceased human remains |
|
until it receives: |
|
(1) a cremation authorization form signed by: |
|
(A) an authorizing agent; and |
|
(B) a funeral director of the funeral |
|
establishment that contracted to provide for the cremation; and |
|
(2) a death certificate or other death record that |
|
indicates the deceased human remains may be cremated. |
|
SECTION 7. Sections 716.052(a) and (c), Health and Safety |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A cremation authorization form must: |
|
(1) identify the deceased person and the time and date |
|
of death; |
|
(2) include the name and address of the funeral |
|
establishment [director or other person] that contracted to provide |
|
for the cremation; |
|
(3) identify the authorizing agent and the |
|
relationship between the authorizing agent and the deceased person; |
|
(4) include a statement by the authorizing agent that: |
|
(A) the authorizing agent has the right to |
|
authorize the cremation of the deceased person and is not aware of |
|
any person with a superior or equal priority right; or |
|
(B) if another person has an equal priority right |
|
to authorize cremation, the authorizing agent: |
|
(i) has made all reasonable efforts but |
|
failed to contact that person and believes the person would not |
|
object to the cremation; and |
|
(ii) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless |
|
the funeral establishment and the crematory establishment for any |
|
liability arising from performing the cremation without the |
|
person's authorization; |
|
(5) authorize the crematory establishment to cremate |
|
the human remains; |
|
(6) declare that to their knowledge the human remains |
|
do not contain a pacemaker or any other material or implant that may |
|
potentially be hazardous or cause damage to the cremation chamber |
|
or the person performing the cremation; |
|
(7) include the name of the funeral establishment or |
|
other person authorized to receive the cremated remains from the |
|
crematory establishment; |
|
(8) detail the manner of permanent disposition of the |
|
cremated remains, if known; |
|
(9) list any items of value delivered to the crematory |
|
establishment along with the human remains and include instructions |
|
on the handling of the items; |
|
(10) specify whether the authorizing agent has |
|
arranged for a viewing of the deceased person or service with the |
|
deceased person present before cremation and the date and time of |
|
the viewing or service; and |
|
(11) include the signature of the authorizing agent |
|
attesting to the accuracy of all representations contained on the |
|
cremation authorization form. |
|
(c) A funeral director [or other representative] of a |
|
funeral establishment that contracts to provide for the cremation |
|
of deceased human remains must sign the cremation authorization |
|
form. |
|
SECTION 8. Subchapter B, Chapter 716, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 716.054 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.054. EXCEPTION; WRITTEN DIRECTIONS. (a) This |
|
section applies and a cremation authorization form is not required |
|
under this chapter if: |
|
(1) the deceased person has left written directions |
|
for the disposition by cremation of the deceased person's human |
|
remains as provided by Section 711.002(g); and |
|
(2) the authorizing agent refuses for any reason to |
|
sign a cremation authorization form. |
|
(b) The crematory establishment may cremate the deceased |
|
person's human remains without receipt of a cremation authorization |
|
form signed by the authorizing agent if: |
|
(1) cremation costs are paid; and |
|
(2) the authorizing agent provides positive written |
|
identification that the human remains to be cremated are the human |
|
remains of the deceased person. |
|
(c) An authorizing agent shall notify the funeral director |
|
in writing of the presence of a pacemaker or other potentially |
|
hazardous implant in the human remains. If the authorizing agent |
|
fails to make this notification: |
|
(1) the funeral director does not have a duty to ensure |
|
that a pacemaker or other potentially hazardous implant is removed |
|
from the human remains before delivering the remains to a crematory |
|
establishment; and |
|
(2) the authorizing agent is liable to the crematory |
|
establishment in a civil action for any damages resulting from |
|
cremation of the remains containing the pacemaker or other |
|
potentially hazardous implant. |
|
SECTION 9. Section 716.102(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A crematory establishment shall furnish to a |
|
representative of a funeral establishment who delivers deceased |
|
human remains to the crematory establishment a receipt that |
|
includes: |
|
(1) the signature and printed name of the |
|
representative who delivered the remains; |
|
(2) the date and time of the delivery; |
|
(3) the type of cremation container in which the |
|
remains were delivered; |
|
(4) the name of the funeral establishment [or other
|
|
entity] that contracted to provide for the cremation; |
|
(5) the name of the individual who received the human |
|
remains on behalf of the crematory; and |
|
(6) the name of the deceased person. |
|
SECTION 10. Section 716.103, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.103. IDENTIFICATION RESPONSIBILITY OF CREMATORY. |
|
(a) A crematory establishment shall place on the exterior of a |
|
cremation container a label with the deceased person's name as |
|
provided by the authorizing agent unless the crematory |
|
establishment knows the name is incorrect. |
|
(b) A crematory establishment shall place, with the |
|
cremated remains, in the temporary container, urn, or other |
|
permanent container, a permanent metal identification disc, |
|
bracelet, or other item that can be used to identify the deceased |
|
person. |
|
SECTION 11. Section 716.104(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Section 716.054, a [A] funeral |
|
director or funeral establishment shall provide a signed written |
|
statement to a crematory establishment that the human remains |
|
delivered to the crematory establishment were positively |
|
identified as the deceased person listed on the cremation |
|
authorization form by the authorizing agent or a representative of |
|
the authorizing agent delegated as provided by Section 716.053. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 716.152(d), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) To the extent practicable, the crematory establishment |
|
shall remove all recoverable cremation residue from the cremation |
|
chamber following cremation and pulverize any bone fragments to a |
|
particle size of one-eighth inch or less as necessary. The |
|
crematory establishment shall remove and dispose of any other |
|
material included with the residue. |
|
SECTION 13. Sections 716.156(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A crematory establishment shall: |
|
(1) release the cremated remains to a representative |
|
of the funeral establishment that delivered the deceased human |
|
remains to the crematory establishment; |
|
(2) release the cremated remains to the person |
|
authorized to receive the remains on the cremation authorization |
|
form; [or] |
|
(3) ship the remains to the shipping address provided |
|
by the authorizing agent on the cremation authorization form not |
|
later than the 30th day following the date of cremation; or |
|
(4) release the cremated remains according to written |
|
directions for the disposition by cremation of the deceased |
|
person's human remains as provided by Section 711.002(g). |
|
(b) A crematory establishment shall furnish to a person who |
|
receives the cremated remains a receipt that includes: |
|
(1) the date and time of release; |
|
(2) the printed name of the person who receives the |
|
cremated remains; |
|
(3) the name of the funeral establishment that [or
|
|
other entity who] contracted to provide for the cremation; |
|
(4) the printed name of the person who released the |
|
cremated remains on behalf of the crematory establishment; and |
|
(5) the name of the deceased person. |
|
SECTION 14. Subchapter E, Chapter 716, Health and Safety |
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 716.204 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.204. IMMUNITY FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABILITY; |
|
WRITTEN DIRECTIONS. (a) In this section: |
|
(1) "Cemetery organization" has the meaning assigned |
|
by Section 711.001. |
|
(2) "Embalmer" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
651.001, Occupations Code. |
|
(b) If Section 716.054(a) applies, a cemetery organization, |
|
a business operating a crematory or columbarium, a funeral |
|
director, an embalmer, or a funeral establishment is not criminally |
|
liable or liable in a civil action for: |
|
(1) cremating the human remains of a deceased person; |
|
or |
|
(2) carrying out the written directions of the |
|
deceased person. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 716.304, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 716.304. SCATTERING REMAINS. A person may scatter |
|
cremated remains over uninhabited public land, over a public |
|
waterway or sea, or on the private property of a consenting owner[,
|
|
if the remains are reduced to a particle size of one-eighth inch or
|
|
less.] Unless the container is biodegradable, the cremated remains |
|
must be removed from the container before being scattered. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 716.351(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if the person: |
|
(1) cremates human remains without receipt of: |
|
(A) a cremation authorization form signed by an |
|
authorizing agent; or |
|
(B) written directions for the disposition by |
|
cremation of the deceased person's human remains as provided in |
|
Section 711.002(g); |
|
(2) signs a cremation authorization form with actual |
|
knowledge that the form contains false or incorrect information; or |
|
(3) represents to the public that the person may |
|
cremate human remains without being licensed as provided by |
|
Subchapter N, Chapter 651, Occupations Code. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 651.154(a), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commission shall set the following fees in amounts |
|
reasonable and necessary to administer this chapter: |
|
(1) the funeral director's and embalmer's application |
|
fee, license fee, duplicate license fee, and reciprocal license |
|
fee; and |
|
(2) the cemetery, crematory, or funeral establishment |
|
license fee, renewal fee, and late renewal penalty. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 651.156, Occupations Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(d) A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued under this |
|
section is not effective unless it is issued in compliance with: |
|
(1) state and federal law; and |
|
(2) commission rules adopted under Subsection (c). |
|
SECTION 19. Section 651.165(d), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) A person whose license has been expired for one year or |
|
more may [not] renew the license by: |
|
(1) retaking and passing the applicable examination; |
|
(2) paying any applicable fees, including a renewal |
|
fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee; |
|
and |
|
(3) completing any continuing education required |
|
under Section 651.266. [The person may obtain a new license by
|
|
complying with the requirements and procedures, including the
|
|
examination requirements, for obtaining an original license.] |
|
SECTION 20. Subchapter D, Chapter 651, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 651.1655 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 651.1655. REINSTATEMENT OF SUSPENDED LICENSE. A |
|
person whose license has been suspended may renew the license by |
|
paying to the commission a renewal fee that is equal to two times |
|
the normally required renewal fee. |
|
SECTION 21. The heading to Section 651.267, Occupations |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 651.267. REISSUANCE OF REVOKED LICENSE. |
|
SECTION 22. Sections 651.267(a) and (d), Occupations Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) On application, the commission may reissue a license |
|
issued under this subchapter to a person whose license has been |
|
[suspended or] revoked. An application to reissue a license may not |
|
be made before the third [first] anniversary of the date of the |
|
[suspension or] revocation. |
|
(d) A license that has been revoked [or suspended for a
|
|
period of five years or more] may be reinstated only after the |
|
applicant: |
|
(1) retakes and passes the applicable examination; |
|
(2) pays a fee that is equal to two times the normally |
|
required renewal fee; and |
|
(3) satisfies any other commission requirements, |
|
including any continuing education requirements under Section |
|
651.266. |
|
SECTION 23. Section 651.304(e), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) The commission by rule shall prescribe reporting |
|
requirements for provisional license holders. The commission shall |
|
furnish report forms to be used by a provisional license holder. |
|
SECTION 24. Sections 651.351(d) and (f), Occupations Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) A funeral establishment must: |
|
(1) meet the building, fire safety, and health |
|
standards and health ordinances of this state and of the |
|
municipality in which the establishment is located; |
|
(2) be located at a fixed place that is not tax-exempt |
|
property or a cemetery; |
|
(3) include facilities in which funeral services may |
|
be conducted; |
|
(4) have access to rolling stock consisting of at |
|
least one motor hearse; |
|
(5) include a preparation room containing the |
|
facilities, equipment, and supplies required by commission rule to |
|
ensure the provision of adequate embalming services; |
|
(6) include other facilities as necessary to comply |
|
with the sanitary codes of this state and of the municipality in |
|
which the room is located; and |
|
(7) include a display containing sufficient |
|
merchandise to permit reasonable selection, including at least five |
|
adult caskets, two of which must be full-size and displayed in a |
|
casket showroom. |
|
(f) The least expensive casket displayed under Subsection |
|
(d)(7) must be a full-size casket displayed in the same general |
|
manner as the other full-size caskets are displayed. The three |
|
adult caskets that are not required to be full-size under |
|
Subsection (d)(7) may be displayed: |
|
(1) in a partial panel display; or |
|
(2) by video or brochure, online, or in any other |
|
manner. |
|
SECTION 25. Section 651.353(d), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) This section does not apply to: |
|
(1) a family, fraternal, or community cemetery that is |
|
not larger than 10 acres; |
|
(2) an unincorporated association of plot owners not |
|
operated for profit; |
|
(3) a church, a religious society or denomination, or |
|
an entity solely administering the temporalities of a church or |
|
religious society or denomination; [or] |
|
(4) a public cemetery owned by this state, a county, or |
|
a municipality; or |
|
(5) a perpetual care cemetery. |
|
SECTION 26. Sections 651.354(a), (c), and (d), Occupations |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commission shall mail written notice to a cemetery |
|
or funeral establishment of the impending expiration of the |
|
establishment's license not later than the 30th day before the |
|
expiration date of the license. The [Except as provided by
|
|
Subsection (d), the] notice must state that: |
|
(1) to renew the license, the cemetery or funeral |
|
establishment must pay the renewal fee not later than the license |
|
expiration date [September 30]; and |
|
(2) the license is automatically renewed on receipt of |
|
the renewal fee. |
|
(c) If the license is expired for longer than 30 days, the |
|
cemetery or funeral establishment [may not renew the license and] |
|
may not operate as a cemetery or funeral establishment until the |
|
renewal fee and the late payment penalty are paid [establishment is
|
|
issued a new license in the manner provided for issuing an original
|
|
license]. |
|
(d) This section does not apply to [To renew a license for] a |
|
perpetual care cemetery [, the cemetery must submit a renewal on a
|
|
form prescribed by the commission. The license is renewed on
|
|
receipt of the form by the commission]. |
|
SECTION 27. Subchapter H, Chapter 651, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 651.355 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 651.355. PERPETUAL CARE CEMETERY REGISTRATION. (a) |
|
The Texas Department of Banking shall provide annually to the |
|
commission a list of perpetual care cemeteries, including the |
|
address and other contact information for each cemetery. The |
|
commission shall annually register each perpetual care cemetery on |
|
that list. |
|
(b) A perpetual care cemetery is not required to pay a |
|
registration fee or renewal fee under this chapter. |
|
SECTION 28. Subchapter J, Chapter 651, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 651.461 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 651.461. DEFENSE TO VIOLATION. A person licensed |
|
under this chapter does not violate this chapter by engaging in |
|
conduct regarding funeral arrangements under the direction of a |
|
person who: |
|
(1) represents to the license holder that the person |
|
is authorized to make funeral arrangements for the deceased; and |
|
(2) provides written directions to the license holder |
|
in the manner provided by Section 711.002, Health and Safety Code. |
|
SECTION 29. Section 651.507(a), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commission or an administrative law judge employed |
|
by the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall review each |
|
disciplinary proceeding to determine whether the license holder has |
|
previously violated [committed] the same provision of this chapter |
|
or rule adopted under this chapter [type of violation on one or more
|
|
previous occasions]. If it is determined that the license holder |
|
has previously violated [committed] the same provision of this |
|
chapter or rule adopted under this chapter [type of violation], the |
|
commission or administrative law judge shall impose a disciplinary |
|
action that is more severe than that imposed on the previous |
|
occasion. |
|
SECTION 30. Section 651.658(d), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) If the license is expired for longer than 30 days, the |
|
crematory establishment may not operate a crematory until the |
|
renewal fee and late payment penalty are paid [A person may not
|
|
renew a license that has been expired for more than 30 days. A
|
|
person holding a license that has been expired for more than 30 days
|
|
must apply for a new license as required by this subchapter to
|
|
conduct a crematory business]. |
|
SECTION 31. The following are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 716.004(b), Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(2) Sections 651.304(b) and (c), 651.651(3), and |
|
651.656(d), Occupations Code. |
|
SECTION 32. Section 711.004(m), Health and Safety Code, as |
|
added by this Act, applies only to costs incurred as a result of an |
|
error that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Costs |
|
incurred as a result of an error that occurred before the effective |
|
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the |
|
error occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. |
|
SECTION 33. Sections 651.165(d), 651.354, and 651.658(d), |
|
Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a license |
|
that expires on or after the effective date of this Act. A license |
|
that expired before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
|
the law in effect at the time the license expired, and the former |
|
law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 34. Section 651.1655, Occupations Code, as added by |
|
this Act, applies only to a license suspended on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A license suspended before the |
|
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the |
|
time the license was suspended, and the former law is continued in |
|
effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 35. Section 651.267, Occupations Code, as amended |
|
by this Act, applies only to a license revoked on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A license revoked before the effective |
|
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the |
|
license was revoked, and the former law is continued in effect for |
|
that purpose. |
|
SECTION 36. Not later than January 1, 2008, the Texas |
|
Department of Banking shall provide the initial list of perpetual |
|
care cemeteries to the Texas Funeral Service Commission as required |
|
by Section 651.355, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 37. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |