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SB-658 Licensed funeral establishments: price list: Internet posting.(2011-2012)



Current Version: 09/30/11 - Chaptered

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SB658:v93#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 658
CHAPTER 386

An act to amend Section 7685 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to funeral services.

[ Approved by Governor  September 30, 2011. Filed with Secretary of State  September 30, 2011. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 658, Negrete McLeod. Licensed funeral establishments: price list: Internet posting.
The Funeral Directors and Embalmers Law regulates licensed funeral establishments and requires that they be operated by a licensed funeral director who is required to provide written information regarding funeral services and prices to consumers, as specified. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor.
This bill would, as of January 1, 2013, require that a licensed funeral establishment that maintains an Internet Web site also post on its Internet Web site the list of funeral goods and services that are required to be included in its general price list, as specified.
Because this bill would establish a new crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 7685 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

7685.
 (a) (1) Every funeral director shall provide to any person, upon beginning discussion of prices or of the funeral goods and services offered, a written or printed list containing, but not necessarily limited to, the price for professional services offered, which may include the funeral director’s services, the preparation of the body, the use of facilities, and the use of automotive equipment. All services included in this price or prices shall be enumerated. The funeral director shall also provide a statement on that list that gives the price range for all caskets offered for sale.
(2) The list shall also include a statement indicating that the survivor of the deceased who is handling the funeral arrangements, or the responsible party, is entitled to receive, prior to the drafting of any contract, a copy of any preneed agreement that has been signed and paid for, in full or in part, by or on behalf of the deceased, and that is in the possession of the funeral establishment.
(3) The funeral director shall also provide a written statement or list that, at a minimum, specifically identifies a particular casket or caskets by price and by thickness of metal, or type of wood, or other construction, interior and color, in addition to other casket identification requirements under Part 453 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations and any subsequent version of this regulation, when a request for specific information on a casket or caskets is made in person by any individual. Prices of caskets and other identifying features such as thickness of metal, or type of wood, or other construction, interior and color, in addition to other casket identification requirements required to be given over the telephone by Part 453 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations and any subsequent version of this regulation, shall be provided over the telephone, if requested.
(b) (1) Each licensed funeral establishment that maintains an Internet Web site shall post on its Internet Web site the list of funeral goods and services that are required to be included in the establishment’s general price list, pursuant to federal rule, and a statement that the general price list is available upon request.
(2) Information posted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be provided by a link from the home page of the Internet Web site.
(3) An establishment that posts on its Internet Web site home page the words “price information” or a similar phrase that includes the word “price,” with a link that leads to the establishment’s general price list, need not comply with paragraphs (1) or (2).
(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to affect an establishment’s obligations under federal or state law effective prior to January 1, 2013.
(5) This subdivision shall become operative on January 1, 2013.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.