Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association

2011 Oklahoma Legislation Updates

As of May 8th the 2011 Legislation updates are as follows ------- SB 431, SB 432, SB 689, SB 307, SB 860, SB 396 are all inactive with no movement since Febuary. ---------Also following house bills are inactive with no movement since Febuary ----HB 1089, HB 1036, HB 1156, HB 2124, HB 1352, HB 1972, AND HB 1679.-------------------The following Bills are still active -----HB 1048 which requires data be filed w vital records if body not found after 7 years. It passed the House, to the Senate to judiciary committee.---------HB 1355 Right of Disposition has passed both the House and Senate and on the way to the Gov on 5-5-2011.--------SB 46 100% disabled Vet - widowed unremarried spouse may make $6,000 tax free perchases per year passed the Senate and to the House DPA approp. abd Budget Committee but no movement since 4-7-2011.---------------SB 406 Funeral Picketing has passed both and signed by Gov on 4-12-2011.--------------SB 433 ME may transmit info electronically passed the Senate and to the House pub safe committee with no more movement since 3-22-2011.-------------SB 671 ME change name to office State Pathology passed the Senate to House, was amended passed house and back to Senate, House amendments were rejected and conferance requested on 5-4-2011.-----------------and last but not least SB 250 Requires Dr. to investigate all deaths passed the Senate, House removed the title and made amendments, passed the House and back to the Senate where house amendments were rejected and it went to Senate Conferance as of 5-5-2011.

Oklahoma Funeral Board Requested Changes

During the last quarter of 2010, the Oklahoma Funeral Board (the licensing board) appointed a committee to determine if changes were needed for licensure in Oklahoma in order to attract more individuals to Funeral Service.----------------- On January 5, 2011, the Funeral Board met and approved language which will address the following ------------- 1. All dual licensees prior to the implementation of new statutes will be eligible to be the FDIC of a Funeral Establishment. After implementation, a dual licensee will also have to hold a degree.--------------------------- 2. An individual who holds a GED or high school diploma, completes a one year apprenticeship assisting with 50 full services, completes the courses required by an accredited mortuary school for the Funeral Director s curriculum and passes the Oklahoma F.D. exam and Oklahoma law Exam may become a licensed Funeral Director. ---------------------------- 3. An individual with a GED or high school diploma who passes a Board exam on funeral service,and performs 25 Supervised removals & 25 burials may obtain a license from the Funeral Board to make first calls and To stay at the cemetery after the conclusion of the graveside ceremony.--------- It is anticipated that language will be drafted by the legislative staff for the creation and filing of a bill in the 2011 legislature to change the Funeral Board statutes to accomplish the above. We will work to keep you informed on this and other legislative issues as the session progresses.

2010 Bills

The 2010 Oklahoma Legislative session is the-2nd session of the 52nd-Legislature, thus, bills which were unsuccessful last year can be re-introduced using their bill numbers from last year The following Bills were unsuccessful last year. SB 287 Funeral Picketing, SB 949 $5 for each Cert. copy of a D.C. for the Cold Case work, HB 1577 & 1629 requiring a cert. copy of the D,C. 10 the state election Board. ( Vital records is already responsible for this action), and HB 1770 by Rep. Roan to allow a person with a limited insurance license to sell preneed. We believe the above bill will be pursued, if you have a Republican Rep. who would be willing to co-author, please lei us knew. There will be some C.E. with this license however, the discussion is that a person does not need to know all of the aspects of insurance to sell preneed which is a very specialized field. 2010 Oklahoma Legislation Filed as of 1-18-10. The following will be watched out of the 2200 bills which have been filed. Others will be added to the list as they are identified prior to and after the commencement of the session.

Perposed Rule Change

RULES CHANGE SOUGHT To require Vital records to train and register Funeral Directors for the new electronic death registration system at no cost.

Southwest Airline Now Ships Human Remains

Commencing September 1, 2009, the Cargo division of Southwest Airlines will begin shipping human remains. The initial cities listed for service from both Tulsa and Oklahoma City include Kansas City, St. Louis, Birmingham, New Orleans, Houston (Hobby), Harlingen South Padre, Corpus, San Antonio, Dallas (Love), Midland Odessa, El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo and Albuquerque. For information, you may contact them at www.swacargo.ondialog.com southwestsupport or you may call them at 1-888-922-9525 Monday - Friday from 6 30 a.m. to 8 00 p.m. central time


	2011 Oklahoma Legislation Updates As of May 8th the 2011 Legislation updates are as follows ------- SB 431, SB 432, SB 689, SB 307, SB 860, SB 396 are all inactive with no movement since Febuary. ---------Also following house bills are inactive with no movement since Febuary ----HB 1089, HB 1036, HB 1156, HB 2124, HB 1352, HB 1972, AND HB 1679.-------------------The following Bills are still active -----HB 1048 which requires data be filed w vital records if body not found after 7 years. It passed the House, to the Senate to judiciary committee.---------HB 1355 Right of Disposition has passed both the House and Senate and on the way to the Gov on 5-5-2011.--------SB 46 100% disabled Vet - widowed unremarried spouse may make $6,000 tax free perchases per year passed the Senate and to the House DPA approp. abd Budget Committee but no movement since 4-7-2011.---------------SB 406 Funeral Picketing has passed both and signed by Gov on 4-12-2011.--------------SB 433 ME may transmit info electronically passed the Senate and to the House pub safe committee with no more movement since 3-22-2011.-------------SB 671 ME change name to office State Pathology passed the Senate to House, was amended passed house and back to Senate, House amendments were rejected and conferance requested on 5-4-2011.-----------------and last but not least SB 250 Requires Dr. to investigate all deaths passed the Senate, House removed the title and made amendments, passed the House and back to the Senate where house amendments were rejected and it went to Senate Conferance as of 5-5-2011. Oklahoma Funeral Board Requested Changes During the last quarter of 2010, the Oklahoma Funeral Board (the licensing board) appointed a committee to determine if changes were needed for licensure in Oklahoma in order to attract more individuals to Funeral Service.----------------- On January 5, 2011, the Funeral Board met and approved language which will address the following ------------- 1. All dual licensees prior to the implementation of new statutes will be eligible to be the FDIC of a Funeral Establishment. After implementation, a dual licensee will also have to hold a degree.--------------------------- 2. An individual who holds a GED or high school diploma, completes a one year apprenticeship assisting with 50 full services, completes the courses required by an accredited mortuary school for the Funeral Director s curriculum and passes the Oklahoma F.D. exam and Oklahoma law Exam may become a licensed Funeral Director. ---------------------------- 3. An individual with a GED or high school diploma who passes a Board exam on funeral service,and performs 25 Supervised removals & 25 burials may obtain a license from the Funeral Board to make first calls and To stay at the cemetery after the conclusion of the graveside ceremony.--------- It is anticipated that language will be drafted by the legislative staff for the creation and filing of a bill in the 2011 legislature to change the Funeral Board statutes to accomplish the above. We will work to keep you informed on this and other legislative issues as the session progresses. 2010 Bills The 2010 Oklahoma Legislative session is the-2nd session of the 52nd-Legislature, thus, bills which were unsuccessful last year can be re-introduced using their bill numbers from last year The following Bills were unsuccessful last year. SB 287 Funeral Picketing, SB 949 $5 for each Cert. copy of a D.C. for the Cold Case work, HB 1577 & 1629 requiring a cert. copy of the D,C. 10 the state election Board. ( Vital records is already responsible for this action), and HB 1770 by Rep. Roan to allow a person with a limited insurance license to sell preneed. We believe the above bill will be pursued, if you have a Republican Rep. who would be willing to co-author, please lei us knew. There will be some C.E. with this license however, the discussion is that a person does not need to know all of the aspects of insurance to sell preneed which is a very specialized field. 2010 Oklahoma Legislation Filed as of 1-18-10. The following will be watched out of the 2200 bills which have been filed. Others will be added to the list as they are identified prior to and after the commencement of the session. Perposed Rule Change RULES CHANGE SOUGHT To require Vital records to train and register Funeral Directors for the new electronic death registration system at no cost. Southwest Airline Now Ships Human Remains Commencing September 1, 2009, the Cargo division of Southwest Airlines will begin shipping human remains. The initial cities listed for service from both Tulsa and Oklahoma City include Kansas City, St. Louis, Birmingham, New Orleans, Houston (Hobby), Harlingen South Padre, Corpus, San Antonio, Dallas (Love), Midland Odessa, El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo and Albuquerque. For information, you may contact them at www.swacargo.ondialog.com southwestsupport or you may call them at 1-888-922-9525 Monday - Friday from 6 30 a.m. to 8 00 p.m. central time