BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 864

By: Rodriguez

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current practice, funeral homes frequently process life insurance claims on behalf of the family of the deceased, either by the funeral home directly or through the use of funding companies to file the claim.  Currently, the funeral home operator can process the claim but is not required to disclose the charge of filing the life insurance claim when offering the service.

As proposed, S.B. 864 amends current law relating to the services included in a retail price list provided by a funeral establishment.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 864 amends the Occupations Code to add the retail price of filing a claim seeking life insurance proceeds on behalf of the beneficiaries to the list of items and services required to be included in a "retail price list" provided by a funeral establishment.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.