Actions Taken by the Georgia Board of Funeral Services at its September 15 Meeting

Macon, Ga.—The Georgia Board of Funeral Services met on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

The Board voted to approve five applications for licensure of new funeral establishment, one application for licensure of a new crematory, one application for reinstatement as a funeral establishment, one application to change the name of a funeral establishment, eight changes to funeral director in full and continuous charge, eight applications for licensure as a funeral director, eight applications for licensure as an embalmer and 11 applications for licensure as a funeral apprentice.

The Board voted to approve requests from the following establishments for grace periods to replace the facilities’ Funeral Director in Full and Continuous Charge:

• Williams Funeral Home, Augusta
• Robert L. Parks Funeral Home, Cedartown
• Community Funeral Home, Zebulon

The Board voted to approve orders to accept fine money for inspection violations against the following establishments:

• Pollard Funeral Home, Atlanta: Fined $50 for failure to equip embalming room with a separate sink for the disinfecting of hands and instruments; and failure to have a card or brochure in each casket stating the price of the casket.
• Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, Cairo: Fined $300 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.
• Donehoo-Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., Hapeville: Fined $200 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.
• Wright and Jones Funeral Home, Lincolnton: Fined $450 for failure to equip embalming room with a separate sink for the disinfecting of hands and instruments; failure to have a card or brochure in each casket stating the price of the casket; and failure to maintain a state of clean, sound, safe, and acceptable repair and condition of the establishment at all times.
• Jackson Funeral Home, Monroe: Fined $100 for failure to maintain an operable hearse.
• Young Funeral Home, Monroe: Fined $100 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.
• Smith Funeral Home, LLC, Richland: Fined $50 for failure to conspicuously display a current biennial renewal license for the establishment, embalmer, funeral director and any apprentices.
• Frank & Solomon Nixon Funeral Home, Tifton: Fined $50 for failure to equip embalming room with a separate sink for the disinfecting of hands and instruments.
• Lowndes and McLane Funeral Home, Tucker: Fined $50 for failure to contain in each embalming room instruments and supplies for the separation and embalming of dead bodies.

The Board voted to approve one continuing education course provided by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, Inc.; one course provided by FuneralReview.com; and 40 courses provided by National Funeral Directors Association – NFDA International Convention & Expo Workshops.

The Board voted to post amendments to the following rules:

• Rule 250-1-.04, Restrictions on Board Members’ Activities: Clarifies “ownership” and “management interest” for the purposes of board member participation in deliberation and decisions on applications presented for Board consideration.
• Rule 250-4-.04, Fees and Renewal: Eliminates language regarding applicants paying a reduced fee when initial apprenticeship registration is granted in the last year of a licensing cycle and clarifies that apprentices may not work if their registration is not renewed by the expiration date, and apprenticeship hours will not be credited for apprentices whose licenses are not renewed by the expiration date.
• Rule 250-5-.06, Licensure by Endorsement: Funeral Director: Adds provisions whereby an applicant for licensure as a funeral director by endorsement may qualify by acquired experience as a licensed funeral director in another state.
• Rule 250-5-.11, Inactive Status: Moves the rule in its entirety from Section 250-6 Funeral Establishment/Crematory Licensure and Regulations, where it is currently listed as Rule 250-6-.04.
• Rule 250-5-.12, Continuing Education Requirements. Amended: Moves the rule in its entirety from Section 250-6 Funeral Establishment/Crematory Licensure and Regulations, where it is currently listed as Rule 250-6-.03.
• Rule 250-6-.02, Changes of Status which Must Be Reported: Provides that notification of a change of ownership must be signed and notarized by both the seller and the purchaser; provides for representatives of ownership to meet with the Board in the event that ownership cannot attend a meeting to appoint a new Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge; and provide that the Board may waive the appearance if the proposed Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge has an ownership interest in the establishment.
• Rule 250-6-.03, Continuing Education Requirements. Amended: Deletes the rule in its entirety. The provisions of the rule are being posted as Rule 250-5-.12, in order to place the rule in a more proper section.
• Rule 250-6-.04, Inactive Status: Deletes the rule in its entirety. The provisions of the rule are being posted as Rule 250-5-.11, in order to place the rule in a more proper section.
• Rule 250-6-.06, Funeral Establishment Inspections; Fines: The proposed rule amendments update the language in sub-paragraph (2)(g) in order to bring the rule into compliance with the Board’s law.
• Rule 250-6-.09, Responsibilities of the Funeral Director in Full and Continuous Charge: Establishes a new rule detailing the responsibilities of the Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge of a funeral establishment or crematory.

The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service will hold its next meeting Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards office located in Macon.