Every person who pays or causes to be paid or offers to pay to any funeral establishment, funeral director or embalmer, or to the agent, assistant or employee of either, any commission or bonus or rebate or other thing of value in consideration of the funeral establishment, funeral director or embalmer recommending or causing the purchase of flowers from any particular florist or dealer in flowers, for use in connection with a funeral service, is guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, that this section shall not apply to a funeral establishment or funeral director who owns or operates a flower shop as a part of his, her or its funeral business, or to his, her or its agents or employees.