Actions Taken by the Georgia Board of Funeral Services at its December 8 Meeting

Macon, Ga.—The Georgia Board of Funeral Services met on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

The Board voted to adopt changes to the following Board rules:

• Rule 250- 1-.04, Restrictions on Board Members' Activities: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to clarify “ownership” and “management interest” for the purpose of board member participation in deliberation and decisions on applications presented for Board consideration.
• Rule 250- 4-.04, Fees and Renewal: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to eliminate language regarding applicants paying a reduced fee when initial apprenticeship registration is granted in the last year of a licensing cycle.  The proposed rule amendments also clarify 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-.11, Inactive Status: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to move the entire rule from Section 250-6 Establishment/Crematory Licensure and Regulations, where it is presently listed as Rule 250-6-.04 Inactive Status. and to include the rule in its entirety in Section 250-5 Personal Licensure.  The provisions of the rule concern personal licensure of embalmers and funeral directors, and, therefore, the rule will be more appropriately listed in Section 250-5. 
• Rule 250-5-.12, Continuing Education Requirements: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to move the entire rule from Section 250-6 Establishment/Crematory Licensure and Regulations, where it is presently listed as Rule 250-6-.03 Continuing Education Requirements.  Amended. and to include the rule in its entirety in Section 250-5 Personal Licensure.  The provisions of the rule concern personal licensure of embalmers and funeral directors, and, therefore, the rule will be more appropriately listed in Section 250-5. 
• Rule 250-6-.02, Changes of Status Which Must be Reported: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to provide that notification of a change of ownership of a funeral establishment or crematory must be signed by both the seller and the purchaser; to provide for representation of ownership in the event that ownership cannot attend a meeting to approve a new Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge; and to provide that the Board may waive the requirement of appearance for appointment if the new Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge has an ownership interest in the establishment. 
• Rule 250-6-.03, (Repeal): The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to delete the rule in its entirety, in order to establish a new rule with the same provisions.  The provisions of the rule are being posted for adoption as Rule 250-5-.12 Continuing Education Requirements.  Amended.  Moving the rule is necessary to place the provisions of the rule in a more appropriate section.
• Rule 250-6-.04, (Repeal): The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to delete the rule in its entirety, in order to establish a new rule with the same provisions.  The provisions of the rule are being posted for adoption as Rule 250-5-.11 Inactive Status.  Moving the rule is necessary to place the provisions of the rule in a more appropriate section.
• Rule 250-6-.06, Funeral Establishment Inspections: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to include language in sub-paragraph (2) (g) regarding display rooms to comply with provisions in OCGA § 43-18-70(b) (3).
• Rule 250-6-.09, Responsibilities of the Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge: The purpose of the proposed rule amendments is to detail the responsibilities of the Funeral Director in Full & Continuous Charge of a funeral establishment or crematory.

The Board voted to approve two new funeral establishment licenses; two funeral establishment change of name requests and seven changes to funeral director in full and continuous charge of a funeral establishment.

The Board voted to approve the following request for a grace period to replace the facilities’ funeral director in full and continuous charge:

• Ashburn Funeral Home, Ashburn

The Board voted to approve the following request to lift the licensee’s probationary status:

• Frederick Stafford, Embalmer and Funeral Director, Albany

The Board voted to approve the following courses for continuing education:

• Georgia Funeral Directors Association (GFDA), Expo2010: six hours approved
• Health and Safety (Michael Fowler), Crime Victims Compensation Program: two hours approved
• National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Simple and Practical Best Practice Ideas for Leading Funeral Homes: one hour approved

The Board approved the following orders to accept fine money for inspection violations:

• Bentley & Sons Funeral Home, Barnesville: $50 for failure to contain in each embalming room instruments and supplies for the separation and embalming of dead bodies, specifically 24 bottles arterial fluid and 24 bottles cavity fluid.
• Community Funeral Home, Shellman: $100 for failure to maintain one operable motor hearse and/or combination hearse/ambulance with current Georgia registration for the transportation of casketed human remains at the establishment.
• C W Phelps Funeral Home, Elberton: $250 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment; failure to maintain one operable motor hearse and/or combination hearse/ambulance with current Georgia registration for the transportation of casketed human remains at the establishment and failure to conspicuously display a current biennial renewal license for the establishment, embalmer, funeral director and any apprentices.
• Darien Funeral Home, Darien: $200 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.
• Davenport – McLendon Mortuary, Inc., Washington: $200 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment. 
• Dawson’s Mortuary, Sparta: $400 for failure to screen all outside openings where left open for ventilation; failure to maintain one operable motor hearse and/or combination hearse/ambulance with current Georgia registration for the transportation of casketed human remains at the establishment; failure to have a card or brochure in each casket stating the price of the casket; and failure to conspicuously display a current biennial renewal license for the establishment, embalmer, funeral director and any apprentices.
• Edwards & Sons Mortuary, Decatur: $100 for failure to maintain one operable motor hearse and/or combination hearse/ambulance with current Georgia registration for the transportation of casketed human remains at the establishment.
• Godfrey Funeral Home, LLC, Valdosta: $100 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.
• Hadley’s Funeral Home, Inc., Thomasville: $50 for failure to equip all embalming rooms with a sink with a drain opening and a non porous sanitary cover into a sewerage or septic tank.
• Haugabrooks Funeral Home, Inc., Atlanta: $400 for failure to have a card or brochure in each casket stating the price of the casket.
• McDougald Funeral Home/Undertaking Establishment, Butler: $400 for failure to equip all embalming rooms with hot and cold running water; and failure to have a card or brochure in each casket stating the price of the casket.
• McLendon Memorial Funeral Home, Washington: $50 for failure to conspicuously display a current biennial renewal license for the establishment, embalmer, funeral director and any apprentices.
• Scott and Roberts Mortuary, Inc., Valdosta: $300 for failure to maintain a minimum of eight adult caskets within the display room on the premises of the establishment.

The Georgia Board of Funeral Services will hold its next meeting Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards Division office in Macon.