Fla. Stat. § 497.385 — Florida Code / Title XXXIII / Chapter 497 / Part III / Section 497.385
497.385 Removal services; refrigeration facilities; centralized embalming facilities.
Status: in_force

In order to ensure that the removal, refrigeration, and embalming of all dead human bodies is conducted in a manner that properly protects the public’s health and safety, the licensing authority shall adopt rules to provide for the licensure of removal services, refrigeration facilities, and centralized embalming facilities operated independently of funeral establishments, direct disposal establishments, and cinerator facilities.

(1) REMOVAL SERVICES AND REFRIGERATION SERVICES. — (a) Application for licensure of a removal service or a refrigeration service shall be made using forms and procedures as specified by rule, shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $300 as set by licensing authority rule, and shall include the name of the business owner, manager in charge, business address, and copies of occupational and other local permits. The applicant shall be required to make disclosure of the applicant’s criminal records, if any, as required by s. 497.142. The applicant shall submit fingerprints in accordance with s. 497.142. A duly completed application accompanied by the required fees shall be approved and the license issued if the applicant has passed an inspection pursuant to rule of the licensing authority, the licensing authority determines the applicant is of good character and has no demonstrated history of lack of trustworthiness or integrity in business or professional matters, and the applicant otherwise is in compliance with all applicable requirements of this chapter. (b) The licensing authority shall set by rule requirements for licensure of removal services and refrigeration services. (c) The licensure shall be renewed biennially pursuant to procedures and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $300 as set by licensing authority rule. The licensing authority may also establish by rule a late renewal penalty fee not to exceed $50 per day. Any licensure not renewed within 30 days after its renewal date shall expire without further action. (d) Each business located at a specific address shall be deemed to be a separate entity and shall require separate licensure and compliance with the requirements of this chapter. (e) Every licensee under this section shall at all times be subject to the inspection of all its buildings, grounds, and vehicles used in the conduct of its business, by the department or any of its designated representatives or agents, or local or Department of Health inspectors. The licensing authority shall by rule establish requirements for inspection of removal services and refrigeration services. (f) The licensing authority shall set by rule an annual inspection fee not to exceed $300, payable upon application for licensure and upon each renewal of such licensure. (g)1. A change in ownership shall be promptly reported using forms and procedures specified by rule and may require the relicensure of the licensee, including reinspection and payment of applicable fees, as required by rule. 2. A change in location shall be promptly reported to the licensing authority pursuant to procedures established by rule. Operations by the licensee at a new location may not commence until an inspection by the licensing authority of the facilities, pursuant to rules of the licensing authority, has been conducted and passed at the new location. (h) The licensing authority may deny, suspend, or revoke the licensure if any person identified in the application has ever been disciplined by a regulatory agency in any jurisdiction for any offense that would constitute a violation of this chapter. The licensing authority may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of any person identified in the application who has been convicted or found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction that directly relates to the ability to operate a removal service or refrigeration service. (i) Each business must display at the public entrance the name of the establishment and the name of the full-time manager in charge. Each licensee must transact its business under the name by which it is licensed with the licensing authority. (j) No person may conduct, maintain, manage, or operate a removal service or refrigeration service unless licensed for such service under this chapter. (k) Such removal services and refrigeration services may not enter into removal or refrigeration contracts with the general public.

(2) CENTRALIZED EMBALMING FACILITIES. — In order to ensure that all funeral establishments have access to embalming facilities that comply with all applicable health and safety requirements, the licensing authority shall adopt rules to provide for the licensure and operation of centralized embalming facilities and shall require, at a minimum, the following: (a) All centralized embalming facilities shall contain all of the equipment and meet all of the requirements that a preparation room located in a funeral establishment is required to meet. The licensing authority may adopt rules establishing the equipment and other requirements for operation of a centralized embalming facility consistent with this paragraph. (b) Each licensed centralized embalming facility shall have at least one embalmer in charge. The embalmer in charge must have an active, valid embalmer license or combination license as a funeral director and embalmer. A funeral director in charge, with appropriate, active licenses, may serve as a funeral director in charge for not more than a total of two of the following: funeral establishments, centralized embalming facilities, direct disposal establishments, or cinerator facilities, as long as the two locations are not more than 75 miles apart as measured in a straight line. (c) Any person, regardless of whether such person is otherwise regulated by this chapter, may own such a facility, provided that such facility is operated in accordance with the rules established by the licensing authority. (d) A centralized embalming facility may only provide services to funeral establishments. (e) The practice of embalming done at a centralized embalming facility shall only be practiced by an embalmer licensed under this chapter and shall be provided only to licensed funeral establishments. (f) Application for licensure of a centralized embalming facility shall be made utilizing forms and procedures prescribed by rule and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $300 as set by licensing authority rule, and licensure shall be renewed biennially pursuant to procedures and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $300 as set by licensing authority rule. The licensing authority may also establish by rule a late fee not to exceed $50 per day. Any licensure not renewed within 30 days after the renewal date shall expire without further action by the department. The applicant shall be required to make disclosure of the applicant’s criminal records, if any, as required by s. 497.142. The applicant shall submit fingerprints in accordance with s. 497.142. A duly completed application accompanied by the required fees shall be approved and the license issued if the applicant has passed an inspection pursuant to rule of the licensing authority, the licensing authority determines the applicant is of good character and has no demonstrated history of lack of trustworthiness or integrity in business or professional matters, and the applicant otherwise is in compliance with all applicable requirements of this chapter. (g) The licensing authority shall set by rule an annual inspection fee not to exceed $300, payable upon application for licensure and upon renewal of such licensure. Centralized embalming facilities shall be subject to inspection before issuance of license and annually thereafter and also upon change of location and during investigation of any complaint. A centralized embalming facility shall notify the licensing authority of any change in location. A change in ownership shall be promptly reported to the licensing authority using forms and procedures specified by rule and may require the relicensure of the licensee, including reinspection and payment of applicable fees, as required by rule. The licensing authority shall adopt rules establishing inspection criteria and otherwise establishing forms and procedures for the implementation of this paragraph. (h) The licensing authority shall, by rule, establish operating procedures which shall require, at a minimum, that centralized embalming facilities maintain a system of identification of human remains received for embalming. (i) A change in location shall be promptly reported to the licensing authority pursuant to procedures established by rule. Operations by the licensee at a new location may not commence until an inspection by the licensing authority of the facilities, pursuant to rules of the licensing authority, has been conducted and passed at the new location.

History: s. 21, ch. 93-399; s. 76, ch. 94-119; s. 7, ch. 96-355; s. 9, ch. 98-298; s. 231, ch. 99-8; s. 30, ch. 2000-356; s. 90, ch. 2004-301; s. 34, ch. 2005-155; s. 7, ch. 2019-140.