- Primary Sponsor
- Session
- Regular Session 2011
- Title
- Funeral Service, Board of, substantially revised relating to board and operation of funeral establishments and mortuary service, application, renewal, and inspection fees increased, fines for violations increased, Secs. 34-13-1, 34-13-7, 34-13-9, 34-13-11, 34-13-12, 34-13-20, 34-13-22, 34-13-23, 34-13-26, 34-13-50, 34-13-51, 34-13-52, 34-13-53, 34-13-55, 34-13-56, 34-13-70, 34-13-72, 34-13-73, 34-13-74, 34-13-90, 34-13-94, 34-13-111, 34-13-113, 34-13-114, 34-13-115, 34-13-116, 34-13-120, 34-13-130 am'd.; Secs. 34-13-28, 34-13-150, 34-13-151, 34-13-152 repealed (2011-20127)
- Summary
HB88 would overhaul the Alabama Board of Funeral Service, tighten regulation of funeral establishments, embalmers, and directors, and raise fees and fines.
What This Bill Does
The bill expands the definitions and requirements for mortuary services and funeral establishments, including minimum facilities and square footage. It increases licenses, renewal, and inspection fees, and sets price disclosures to align with FTC rules. It revises who may direct disposition and strengthens the liability protections for funeral directors acting in good faith, while boosting board diversity, granting exam delegation, and increasing board per diem. It creates a more formal disciplinary process, expands complaint procedures, and adds stricter oversight for crematories and disposition practices, while repealing outdated provisions.
Who It Affects
- Funeral directors and embalmers who must meet new education requirements, pay higher fees, display licenses publicly, and face expanded disciplinary rules.
- Funeral establishments and mortuary services that must meet new facility standards, pay higher licensing and inspection fees, and follow updated rules for name changes and operating requirements.
- Alabama Board of Funeral Service members and staff, who will implement new diversity rules, delegate certain licensing exams, and receive higher per diem and administrative support.
- Consumers and the general public, who will benefit from FTC-aligned pricing disclosures, clearer authorization for disposition of remains, and improved regulatory oversight of crematories and final disposition practices.
- Crematory operators and facilities, which face licensing requirements, annual unannounced inspections, and stricter reporting and training obligations.
Key Provisions
- Definition of mortuary service and required contents/square footage for funeral establishments and mortuary services, including specific room and equipment requirements.
- Funeral service, cemetery service, and funeral merchandise pricing must conform to FTC rules.
- Revision of who may act as an authorizing agent for disposition of remains, with a hierarchy of priority and requirements for consent, especially for cremations, and clarified liability for directors acting in good faith.
- Board composition and authority to delegate administration of license examinations; increased per diem for board members from 10 to 20 days per year; annual diversity reporting.
- Establishment of complaint and due process hearing procedures, including timelines, notice, and the right to counsel; potential suspensions pending hearings.
- Licensure/education changes: applicants for funeral director licenses must graduate from an approved/accredited school; reciprocal licenses and temporary work permits with defined fees; public display of certificates; defined examination subjects and passing grades.
- Fee schedule increases: higher initial/licensing/exam fees; renewal fees (funeral directors/embalmers up to $150; operators up to $500); reinstatement fees; special operating permit fees; and various inspection/transfer fees.
- Cremation regulation: crematories must be licensed as funeral establishments, annual unannounced inspections, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and prohibition on cremating deceased animals.
- Repeals: removal of certain outdated provisions, including donor eye enucleation licensing and related reporting requirements.
AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
- Subjects
- Funeral Service, Board of
