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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
apprenticeships; funeral directors; embalmers; cremationists
Purpose
Allows an applicant for an intern license or cremationist license to complete an apprenticeship that is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) or the Department of Economic Security (DES) as a qualification for licensure.
Background
The State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (Board) regulates and licenses funeral directors, embalmers, interns and cremationists in Arizona. The Board adopts rules for standards of practice, professional conduct, competence and consumer disclosure relating to funeral directing, embalming, cremation and owning or operating a funeral establishment or crematory (A.R.S. § 32-1307).
An applicant for a cremationist license must: 1) be of good moral character; 2) submit a completed application under oath with the required fee; 3) submit a completed fingerprint card; and 4) meet the Board-prescribed education requirements (A.R.S. § 32-1394.01). Board rules require a cremationist license applicant to complete a crematory certification program (A.A.C. R4‑12-210).
An intern licensed by the Board may engage in embalming under the supervision of a licensed embalmer and arrange and direct funerals under the supervision of a licensed funeral director (A.R.S. § 32-1301). An applicant for an intern license must: 1) be of good moral character; 2) hold a high school diploma or its equivalent; and 3) graduate from an accredited school of mortuary science. An applicant for an embalmer license or funeral director license must have been a licensed intern for one year and meet the respective outlined requirements (A.R.S. § 32-1322).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows an applicant to qualify for a cremationist license by completing a U.S. DOL-approved or DES-approved apprenticeship program in cremation, as an alternative to meeting the educational requirements prescribed by the Board.
2. Allows an applicant to qualify for an intern license by completing a U.S. DOL-approved or DES-approved apprenticeship program in funeral directing and embalming, as an alternative to graduating from school of mortuary science.
3. Requires the Board to approve a funeral director, embalmer or cremationist as a mentor for a DES-approved apprenticeship based on compliance with statutory funeral directors and embalmers regulations.
4. Prohibits the Board from conditioning mentorship approval on payment of an additional fee or completion of an additional requirement.
5. Allows a funeral establishment to employ, for no more than a year, an intern trainee who has completed or intends to complete an approved apprenticeship program in funeral directing and embalming.
6. Allows an intern trainee who completes at least 16 hours of training in embalming procedures, ethics, applicable Board rules, and health and safety procedures and precautions through an approved apprenticeship program in funeral directing and embalming to:
a) assist in the preparation of human remains;
b) assist in embalming at the funeral establishment under direct personal supervision of an embalmer; and
c) perform all other functions of a licensed intern under supervision of an embalmer or funeral director.
7. Defines mentor as either:
a) a funeral director or embalmer approved by the Board to train a person in a DES-approved funeral directing and embalming apprenticeship program in a licensed funeral establishment; or
b) a cremationist approved by the Board to train a person in a DES-approved cremation apprenticeship program in a licensed crematory.
8. Makes technical and conforming changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Requires the Board to approve a funeral director, embalmer or cremationist as a mentor for a DES-approved apprenticeship.
2. Prohibits the Board from conditioning mentorship approval on a fee or additional requirement.
3. Defines mentor.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
COM 2/20/20 DP 8-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 4, 2020
LB/JDP/gs