COLUMBUS
– The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 481,
legislation that makes changes to laws affecting Ohio’s funeral homes
and funeral directors.
Among
provisions included in the bill is establishing a new procedure to
allow funeral directors and embalmers to place their licenses on
inactive status. After being on inactive status, a funeral director or
embalmer must pass an Ohio funeral laws exam before returning to the
profession.
“In working closely with the Ohio Funeral Directors Association,
it became clear that certain issues needed to be addressed regarding
Ohio’s funeral laws,” said bill sponsor Representative Bob Hackett
(R-London). “H.B. 481 both updates current laws and institutes common
sense provisions that I believe will greatly benefit the approximately
1,000 funeral homes and 2,500 funeral professionals in the state.”
House
Bill 481 also allows the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
to issue courtesy card licenses to funeral directors in bordering
states to conduct limited funeral related activities in Ohio. The
adjoining state must have a similar law that grants Ohio funeral
directors to conduct funeral related activities in that state.
Also
under the bill, funeral homes can continue to operate until the State
Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors meets to review a new
application when an existing funeral home is sold and the new owner
files a new funeral home license application.
Finally,
the bill authorizes funeral directors from other states to come to Ohio
and assist Ohio funeral directors during a declared emergency.
HB 481 passed the Ohio House unanimously and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
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