Article 5.5 - Funeral Practices

California Business and Professions Code — §§ 7685-7685.6

Sections (6)

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 13. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.

(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, that 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, before 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 an 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 Internet Web site homepage with a word or combination of words, including, but not limited to, “goods,” “merchandise,” “products,” or “services.”
(3)An establishment that posts on its Internet Web site homepage 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)This subdivision shall not be construed to affect an establishment’s obligations under federal or state law effective before January 1, 2013.
(5)This subdivision shall become operative on January 1, 2013.

Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 797, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.

(a)The funeral director shall in a conspicuous manner place the price on each casket. Individual price tags on caskets shall include the thickness of metal, or type of wood, or other construction, as applicable, in addition to interior and color information. Each casket shall be priced individually, irrespective of the type of service purchased. If a funeral director advertises a funeral service for a stated amount, he or she shall display in a reasonably convenient location in the showroom and have available for sale, any casket which is used for determining that price.
(b)No funeral director shall charge the survivor of the deceased who is handling the funeral or burial arrangements or the responsible party a handling fee for a casket supplied by the survivor or responsible party.
(c)No funeral director or embalmer shall charge any additional fee for handling or embalming a body when death was due to a contagious or infectious disease.

Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 395, Sec. 22. (AB 180) Effective January 1, 2016.

(a)The bureau shall make available to funeral establishments and cemetery authorities a copy of a consumer guide for funeral and cemetery purchases for purposes of reproduction and distribution. The funeral and cemetery guide that is approved by the bureau, in consultation with the funeral and cemetery industries and any other interested parties, shall be made available in printed form and electronically through the Internet.
(b)A licensee shall prominently display and make available to any individual who, in person, inquires about funeral or cemetery purchases, a copy of the consumer guide for funeral and cemetery purchases, reproduced as

specified in subdivision (a).

(c)Prior to the drafting of a contract for services, the licensee shall provide, for retention, the consumer with a copy of the consumer guide for funeral and cemetery purchases described in subdivisions (a) and (b).

Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 715, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002. Section operative July 1, 2002, by its own provisions.

(a)Every funeral establishment, prior to drafting any contract for funeral goods or services, shall present to the survivor of the deceased who is handling the funeral arrangements, or the responsible party, a statement disclosing whether or not the funeral establishment has any preneed agreement made by or on behalf of the deceased. If the funeral establishment has a preneed agreement made by or on behalf of the deceased, the statement shall also declare the establishment’s compliance with Section 7745. The disclosure statement shall be signed and dated by the representative of the funeral establishment and by the survivor or responsible party. The completed disclosure statement shall be retained by the funeral establishment for a period of time determined by the bureau, and a copy shall be given to the survivor or responsible party.
(b)The bureau shall develop a form, in consultation with the funeral industry and any other interested parties, that is separate and distinct from other forms, upon which the disclosure statement shall be made. The bureau shall make the form available to funeral establishments for purposes of reproduction and distribution, and the form shall also be available electronically through the Internet. The form shall be simple and easy to read and shall include all of the following:
(1)The definition of a preneed arrangement, adopted by the bureau by regulation.
(2)A statement of the funeral establishment’s responsibilities under Section 7745.
(3)Information about how the consumer may contact the bureau for more information or how to file a complaint against a licensee.
(c)A violation of this section constitutes grounds for disciplinary action.
(d)This section shall become operative July 1, 2002.