Case Title: Louisiana State Board of Embalmers v. Britton

Citation: 154 So. 2d 389, 244 La. 756

Docket Number: 

State: louisiana

Court: Louisiana Supreme Court

Date: 1963-06-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
154 So. 2d 389 (1963) 244 La. 756 LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF EMBALMERS v. George Washington BRITTON. LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF EMBALMERS v. Charlie WILSON. Nos. 46609, 46610. Supreme Court of Louisiana. June 4, 1963. Rehearing Denied June 28, 1963. Michael M. Irwin, New Orleans, Jack P. F. Gremillion, Atty. Gen., John E. Jackson, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., for plaintiff-appellant. *390 Watts & Crain, Franklinton, for defendants-appellees. SANDERS, Justice. This appeal presents for decision the constitutionality of LSA-R.S. 37:831-37:851, relating to the powers of the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers. In these consolidated suits, the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers sought injunctions against the defendants restraining them from practicing funeral directing without a license. The defendants answered, attacking the constitutionality of LSA-R.S. 37:831-37:851, the statute under which the Board sought to act, on the grounds that it denied the defendants due process of law in violation of Article I, Section 2 of the LSA-Constitution and constituted an unlawful delegation of legislative power in violation of Article II, Section 2. The district court declared LSA-R.S. 37:840 and LSA-R.S. 37:842 unconstitutional as an unlawful delegation of legislative power and dismissed the suits. After abandoning a motion for a new trial, the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers appealed. The Louisiana State Board of Embalmers was first created by Act no. 66 of 1914, which had for its purpose the regulation of embalming and undertaking. The present law on this subject is incorporated in Chapter 10, Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The defendants concede, as well they must, that the science of embalming and the business of funeral directing is a proper sphere for the exercise by the state of its police power. The care and burial of the dead are directly related to the public health, safety, and general welfare. The defendants strenuously contend, however, that the statute fixes no proper standards for the exercise of the discretion vested in the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers. Hence, it constitutes an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the administrative board. As we view it, the contention is a serious one. Delegations by the Legislature to administrative bodies of the power to administer laws have long been recognized. Such delegations are the product of necessity arising from economic and governmental conditions of increasing complexity.[1] It is well settled, however, that the Legislature must establish reasonably clear standards or guides in such a delegation to fulfill constitutional requirements.[2] The salutary purpose of these standards is to prevent the abdication by the Legislature of its exclusive law-making power, provide meaningful guidance to the administrative body, inhibit the arbitrary use of authority by that body, and serve as a basis for judicial review. The pivotal issue in the instant case is whether the Legislature has provided adequate standards in the assailed statute. The resolution of this issue requires a detailed examination of its provisions. LSA-R.S. 37:832 creates the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and prescribes its membership. Section 840 provides: "The board shall: "(3) Adopt a common seal; Section 842 further provides: "(1) Be of good moral character; It is clear that the only attribute definitely specified in the statute is that of good moral character. Adequate knowledge of the science of embalming, sanitation, and disinfection can only mean such knowledge as is deemed adequate by the Board. The requirement that the applicant meet the qualifications prescribed refers to the qualifications prescribed by the Board itself. As we view the statute, it delegates to the Board arbitrary power to grant or withhold a license. The statement of legislative policy in the instant statute falls short of that in the statute regulating marine diving that was stricken in Banjavich v. Louisiana, Licensing *392 Board for Marine Divers[3] and that in the statute regulating watch repairing that was invalidated in State v. Morrow.[4] Hence, these two decisions control the disposition of this case. In the Banjavich case, this Court stated: However, the appellant Board contends that the rule requiring standards in a statutory delegation does not apply to statutes enacted under the police power for the protection of the public health, safety, or general welfare. We find no merit in this contention. The statutes stricken in both the Banjavich and Morrow cases were considered, at least for purposes of decision, as exercises of the police power. We are aware that the present tendency of the law is toward greater liberality in measuring standards in delegations of discretion to administrative bodies.[5] However, despite the absence of any impediment to an adequate expression of legislative policy, the instant statute provides no real standards, or guides. Hence, we hold, as did the district court, that LSA-R.S. 37:840 and LSA-R.S. 37:842 are unconstitutional. For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the district court is affirmed. HAWTHORNE, Justice (dissenting). See dissenting opinion in State v. Morrow, 231 La. 572, 92 So. 2d 70. [1] See National Bank of Commerce v. Board of Sup'rs, 206 La. 913, 20 So. 2d 264. [2] Article II, Section 1 and 2, Article III, Section 1, Louisiana Constitution of 1921; Banjavich v. Louisiana Licensing Board for Marine Divers, 237 La. 467, 111 So. 2d 505; State v. Morrow, 231 La. 572, 92 So. 2d 70; 1 Am.Jur.2d Administrative Law, § 113, pp. 913-914. [3] 237 La. 467, 111 So. 2d 505. The statute required specified periods of apprenticeship, physical demonstration of fitness, and qualification under "such examinations as may be prescribed by the board." [4] 231 La. 572, 92 So. 2d 70. The statute required good character, a minimum age, and such "general education, training and experience as the board may determine." [5] See Woodard v. Reily, La., 152 So. 2d 41 and National Bank of Commerce v. Board of Sup'rs., 206 La. 913, 20 So. 2d 264.