Source: https://development.code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/3/chapters/4/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 02:41:01+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - Chapter 4. Board of Funeral Directors.
Chapter 5. Board of Veterinary Examiners.
§ 3–407. Terms and conditions of apprenticeship.
§ 3–408. Grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of license.
§ 3–411. Prohibited acts; exemption for services provided during emergency.
§ 3–412. Claim of human remains — Funeral services establishment entitled; settlement of disputed claims.
§ 3–413. Claim of human remains — Order of priority of next of kin.
§ 3–414. Services requiring direct supervision by funeral director.
§ 3–415. Courtesy cards for funeral directors licensed in Maryland or Virginia.
§ 3–416. Change of address of licensee.
§ 3–421. Services requiring immediate supervision by a funeral director.
(1) “Adult” means a person who is 18 years of age or older.
(2) “Apprentice funeral director” means any person licensed by the District to engage in learning the practice, or to engage in the practice, of funeral directing by performing funeral directing under the direct or immediate supervision of a full-time funeral director licensed by the District.
(3) “Board” means the Board of Funeral Directors for the District of Columbia.
(4) “Consumer” means a person who makes arrangements with a funeral services establishment for the care and disposition of human remains, including arrangements made prior to the death of a person.
(5) “Council” means the Council of the District of Columbia.
(6) “Direct supervision” means that a funeral director currently licensed to practice as a funeral director in the District is present and assisting the supervisee.
(8) “Full-time employee” means a person whose primary occupation or employment is with a funeral services establishment as a funeral director.
(9) “Funeral director” means any person licensed by the District to perform the practice of funeral directing. As used in this chapter, the term “funeral director” includes the terms “mortician,” “undertaker,” and “embalmer” as these terms relate to licensure in those jurisdictions where these categories are licensed separately, or under these terms.
(10) “Funeral provider” means any person, partnership, or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public.
(12) “Human remains” means the remains of a deceased human being or fetus or any part thereof.
(13) “Immediate supervision” means that a funeral director currently licensed to practice as a funeral director in the District is available within reasonable proximity and within vocal or electronic communication range of the supervisee.
(14) “License” means an authority from the District which entitles the holder to practice in the District either as a funeral director or apprentice funeral director, or an authority from the District which entitles the holder to own and operate a funeral services establishment.
(15) “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
(16) “Nationally approved examination” means the examination approved by the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.
(17) “Person” means any natural person.
(18) “Practice of funeral directing” means engaging in the care and disposal of human remains or the preserving by embalming or otherwise of human remains for transportation, funeral services, burial, or cremation.
(19) “Solicitation” means any annoying or unseemly conduct by a licensee, his employees, or agents, such as: (A) Loitering in or about a hospital, sanitarium, personal care home, or other place for the purpose of soliciting the employment of the licensee’s services; (B) offering, giving, or promising any gratuity or payment, either in money or property, to any person for information concerning human remains; (C) requesting or recommending that a consumer change from another funeral services establishment to the soliciting party’s funeral services establishment; (D) engaging in a dispute with another licensee for the possession of human remains; or (E) initiating contact with the next of kin, relations, friends, or associates of the deceased in order to provide funeral services or disposition of the deceased without being contacted by the next of kin or his or her representative. The term “solicitation” shall not include general advertising, the sale of burial insurance, or responses to requests for information from consumers.
This section is referenced in § 3-405 and § 3-411.
D.C. Law 18-223 rewrote pars. (6) and (13).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2082(a) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
Short title: Section 2081 of D.C. Law 18-223 provided that subtitle H of title II of the act may be cited as the “Funeral Director Licensing Amendment Act of 2010”.
(a) The Mayor may establish, by rule, a fee schedule for all services related to the regulation of the practice of funeral directing. The fees shall be reasonably related to the cost of administering the licensing, certification, or registration, including the cost of testing, processing, and issuing the license, certificate, or registration, and a proportionate share of the cost of running the Board and any hearing procedures, and other administrative functions. Application fees paid under this section shall not be refundable, even if the applicant withdraws his or her application for licensure, certification, or registration, or is found by the Board to be not qualified.
(b) The Mayor may establish and change the expiration date of licenses provided for in this chapter. Upon the change of an expiration date, the renewal fee for licenses shall be prorated on the basis of the time covered.
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2082(b) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
(a) A license to practice in the District as either a funeral director or apprentice funeral director, or to operate a funeral services establishment shall be issued to each applicant who meets all of the requirements for licensure.
(b) Every license in good standing issued in accordance with this chapter shall expire on a date set by the Mayor and shall be renewed as determined by the Mayor in rules and regulations to be issued pursuant to § 3-420. On or before the 30th day preceding expiration, the Mayor shall mail an application for renewal to the last known address of each person holding a license in good standing. Failure to receive this application shall not be a proper defense of any person failing to renew any required license.
(c) Each person holding a license in good standing issued pursuant to this chapter, and who wishes to continue practice in the District, shall, on or before the last day of each term, file an application for renewal of the license accompanied by the proper fee.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, upon receipt of a renewal application and the proper fee, the Mayor shall issue a renewal for the new license year.
(e) Any person holding a license issued under the provisions of this chapter who fails to file an application for renewal and pay the required fee on or before the last day of any license term, and who, after the first day of the new term, performs in the District the duties of a licensee, shall be found in violation of this chapter. Any license that is not renewed within 30 days of the expiration of its term, shall be terminated.
(f) Any person whose license has expired and who subsequently files an application for renewal shall comply with any terms and conditions prescribed by the Mayor not inconsistent with this chapter. The terms and conditions for restoration of a lapsed license may, in the discretion of the Mayor, include the passing of an examination or payment of a penalty fee, or both.
D.C. Law 17-353, in subsec. (b), substituted “§ 3-420” for “§ 3-403(i)”.
Human tissue provisions, exemption, see § 7-1541.06.
(a) In order to qualify for a funeral director’s license, an apprentice funeral director (“apprentice”) must serve an apprenticeship under the supervision of a funeral director licensed by the District.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirement of subsection (a) of this section, an apprentice who is required to serve a 2-year minimum apprenticeship may serve up to 1 year of the apprenticeship outside of the District, if the period of apprenticeship served outside of the District is served under the supervision of a funeral director who has passed a nationally approved examination and is the owner or full-time employee of the funeral services establishment where the apprentice is employed. The Mayor shall issue rules and regulations to implement this subsection pursuant to § 3-420.
(c) An apprentice funeral director may obtain license renewals allowing him to extend his apprenticeship, but the total period of apprenticeship shall not exceed 4 years.
(d) Every apprentice employed in that capacity within the District shall, within 5 days after terminating his or her employment, notify the Mayor of the termination, indicating the date on which the employment ceased.
(e) Every apprentice whose employment under the supervision of a funeral director is terminated shall, immediately upon being employed to work under the supervision of another funeral director, notify the Mayor of the change of employment, indicating the name, address, and license number of the funeral director under whose supervision the apprentice is continuing his or her apprenticeship.
(f) A funeral director shall, upon employing an apprentice or terminating the employment of an apprentice, notify the Mayor in writing accordingly. The notification shall contain the name, address, and license number of the apprentice, as well as the date on which the apprentice was employed or terminated.
(11) Committed gross negligence in the performance of funeral directing services. Acts constituting gross negligence shall be prescribed by the Mayor in rules and regulations issued pursuant to § 3-403(i).
(b) Any denial, suspension, or revocation under this section shall be made only upon specific charges in writing and after proper notice and a hearing pursuant to § 3-409.
When a written complaint alleging a violation under this chapter has been filed with the Mayor, the Mayor shall initiate an investigation and, if warranted, fix a time and place for a hearing pursuant to § 2-509. The Mayor shall cause a certified copy of the charges to be served on the respondent within a reasonable time prior to the hearing. The attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents at the hearing may be compelled by subpoena. The Mayor shall be bound by the rules of procedure and evidence in the conduct of hearings pursuant to § 2-509, and decisions shall be based upon substantial evidence. If the respondent is found in violation of this chapter, the Mayor may refuse to issue the respondent a license, may refuse to renew the license of the respondent, or may revoke or suspend the license of the respondent.
This section is referenced in § 3-408.
Any person aggrieved by any final decision or order of the Mayor denying, suspending, or revoking any license or renewal of a license issued or applied for under this chapter may obtain a review of the decision pursuant to § 2-510.
(a) No person shall engage in the practice of funeral directing in the District of Columbia without being licensed in accordance with this chapter.
(b) No funeral services establishment licensee shall engage in, or permit any employee or agent to engage in, the practice of funeral directing unless the person performing these duties is a funeral director licensed pursuant to this chapter or an apprentice funeral director licensed pursuant to this chapter and under the direct or immediate supervision of a licensed funeral director as required by this chapter. The direct or immediate supervision requirement shall not extend to employees whose duties are limited to the business management activities of the establishment.
(c) No person shall operate a funeral services establishment in the District unless the person is licensed in accordance with this chapter. A separate funeral services establishment license shall be required for each location in the District.
(d) No person shall engage in the practice of funeral directing if the person is employed on a part-time or full-time basis by a nursing home, hospital, morgue, physician’s office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, or an ambulance service.
(d-1) A funeral services establishment shall not operate an emergency medical transport service with technicians or drivers who do not work exclusively for the medical transport service.
(e) No person licensed as a funeral director or apprentice funeral director, or licensed to operate a funeral services establishment shall allow any other person to use or practice under his or her license.
(f) No person shall perform funeral directing services at any funeral services establishment in the District unless he or she has on display at the establishment a valid current license to practice at that location. Any license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be good only for the location designated thereon.
(g) No person employed by a nursing home, hospital, morgue, physician’s office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, or an ambulance service shall inform a funeral services establishment, funeral director, or representative or employee of a funeral services establishment of a death or impending death at the institution if the person is employed for the purpose of facilitating solicitation, as defined in § 3-402(19), by the funeral services establishment, funeral director, representative, or employee.
(h) This chapter does not prohibit the provision of funeral, cremation, cemetery, or other mortuary services by an individual who is authorized to provide such services under Chapter 23C of Title 7 [§ 7-2361.01 et seq.], while an emergency declaration is in effect.
D.C. Law 18-184, in the section heading, inserted “; exemption for services provided during emergency”; and added subsec. (h).
D.C. Law 18-223 rewrote subsecs. (d) and (g); and added subsec. (d-1).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2082(d) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
The funeral services establishment retained by the person authorized pursuant to § 3-413 shall be entitled to take possession of human remains. In the event that 2 or more establishments differ as to their legal right to take possession of human remains, they shall refer the matter to the Mayor or his or her designee for a decision.
(5) An adult friend or volunteer.
(b)(1) Any competent adult may decide the disposition of the individual’s remains after death and without the pre-death or post-death consent of any other person by executing a document, in accordance with this section, which expresses the individual’s wishes regarding the disposition of his or her body.
(2)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any competent adult may designate an individual who shall be empowered to make decisions concerning the disposition of the human remains of the individual by executing a document in accordance with this section.
(B) The document shall include language that clearly communicates the individual’s intent to have the person so designated make decisions regarding the disposition of the individual’s human remains upon death. The document shall become effective upon the death of the individual choosing the representative.
(c) A document executed under subsection (b)(1) and (2) of this section shall be dated and signed by the individual delineating the disposition of his or her remains upon death under subsection (b)(1) of this section or designating a representative under subsection (b)(2) of this section.
(d) A person may revoke the document executed under this section in writing, at any time.
(e) A document executed under this section may be included as part of a document executed in accordance with subchapter II-A of Chapter 15 of Title 7.
This section is referenced in § 3-412.
D.C. Law 17-145, in subsec. (e), substituted “ subchapter II-A of Chapter 15 of Title 7” for “subchapter II of Chapter 15 of Title 7”.
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of the Funeral Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-445, November 7, 2000, 47 DCR 9209).
For temporary (90 day) addition of § 3-413.01, see § 2(b) of the Funeral Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-445, November 7, 2000, 47 DCR 9209).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Funeral Services Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-8, March 2, 2001, 48 DCR 2487).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Funeral Services Temporary Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-219, April 3, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 3461).
(4) The degree to which the arrangements and final disposition will allow for participation by all who wish to pay respect to the decedent.
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 2(b) of Funeral Services Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-8, March 2, 2001, 48 DCR 2487).
For temporary (225 day) addition, see § 2(b) of Funeral Services Temporary Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-219, April 3, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 3461).
The handling, preparation, or embalming of human remains which carried infectious or contagious diseases must at all times be done by a licensed funeral director, or in the case of an apprentice funeral director, under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director.
The Mayor shall issue rules and regulations pursuant to § 3-403(i) [repealed] which shall prescribe the terms and conditions under which the District may grant courtesy cards to funeral directors duly licensed in the State of Maryland or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Courtesy cards shall be limited to authorizing a funeral director licensed in either state to enter the District for the purposes of filing the death certificate of a deceased person or transporting human remains to the state where the funeral director is licensed in order to perform funeral services. Courtesy cards shall not permit a funeral director licensed in Maryland or Virginia but not licensed in the District to maintain an office or agent in the District or to advertise in any manner in the District as practicing funeral directing in the District.
(a) Any person holding a funeral director’s license or an apprentice funeral director’s license shall, within 5 days after any change of business or residence address, notify the Mayor in writing of the change.
(b) Any person holding a funeral services establishment license shall, within 5 days after any change of ownership or percentage of ownership, or location of establishment, notify the Mayor in writing of the change.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or rules or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $300 or more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Each act of unlawful practice shall constitute a distinct and separate offense. Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as alternative sanctions for any infraction of the provisions of this chapter, or the rules or regulations issued under the authority of this chapter, pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2. Adjudication of any infractions shall be pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2.
(a) Prosecution for violation of any provision of this chapter shall be conducted in the name of the District of Columbia in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Corporation Counsel or his or her assistant.
(b) In order to constitute a violation under this chapter, it shall be necessary to prove in any prosecution or hearing only a single act prohibited by law without proving a general course of conduct.
Whenever the Mayor finds that any person has engaged in, or is about to engage in, the unlawful practice of funeral directing or apprentice funeral directing, the unlawful operation of a funeral services establishment, or any act which constitutes or will constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter or rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto, the Mayor may make application to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for an order enjoining unlawful practice or act. Upon a showing by the Mayor that person has engaged in, or is about to engage in, any unlawful practice or act, an injunction, restraining orders, or other orders as may be appropriate may be granted by the Court without bond.
For temporary (90 day) addition of § 3-420, see § 2(c) of the Funeral Services Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-445, November 7, 2000, 47 DCR 9209).
The Mayor may promulgate rules consistent with this chapter.
This section is referenced in § 3-405, § 3-406, and § 3-407.
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 2(c) of Funeral Services Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-8, March 2, 2001, 48 DCR 2487).
For temporary (225 day) addition of section, see § 2(c) of Funeral Services Temporary Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-219, April 3, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 3461).
(4) Advising consumers making arrangements for the care and disposition of human remains, including arrangements made prior to the death of a person.
Licensure, non-health related occupations and professions, see § 47-2853.04.
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 2082(e) of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).

References: § 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3

§ 3
 § 3
 § 3
 § 2082
 § 2082
 § 3
 § 7
 § 3
 § 3
 § 3
 § 2
 § 2
 § 3
 § 2
 § 3
 § 2082
 § 3
 § 3
 § 2
 § 3
 § 2
 § 2
 § 2
 § 2
 § 2
 § 3
 § 3
 § 2
 § 3
 § 3
 § 3
 § 2
 § 2
 § 47
 § 2082