An Act Regarding the Licensure of Funeral Service Providers
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0952
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: LUCHINI, LANGLEY, ALLEY, GOODE, KUMIEGA, LOCKMAN, TUELL, BURNS
Amends: 32 MRSA §1501

Legislative Document 
No. 952 
H.P. 655 
House of Representatives, March 17, 2015 
An Act Regarding the Licensure of Funeral Service Providers 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative LUCHINI of Ellsworth. 
Cosponsored by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock and 
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, GOODE of Bangor, KUMIEGA of Deer Isle, LOCKMAN 
of Amherst, TUELL of East Machias, Senator: BURNS of Washington. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §1501, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. J, §§8 and 9, is 
further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read: 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board shall permit the provisional 
licensure under this section of a practitioner of funeral service who has been in 
continuous practice as a licensed practitioner of funeral service in good standing in 
another state for 2 continuous years immediately preceding submission of an application 
under this section if the license from the other state was obtained under substantially 
similar requirements as the license requirements under this chapter and the applicant 
provides appropriate letters of recommendation as required by the board. The board shall 
compile and periodically update a list of states that have licensure requirements for the 
practice of funeral service substantially similar to those in this chapter.  Upon verification 
of a complete application that meets the requirements of this paragraph, the board shall 
issue a temporary license to the applicant that expires in 90 days or when the board rules 
on the application, whichever is sooner.  The board shall rule on an application submitted 
under this paragraph within 90 days of the application's submission. If the board approves 
an application under this paragraph, the board shall issue a provisional license for the 
practice of funeral service.  A person who receives a provisional license under this 
paragraph must achieve a passing score on the examination under this section within one 
year of issuance of a provisional license under this paragraph.  The board shall issue a 
permanent license under this section to a holder of a provisional license under this 
paragraph upon the provisional license holder's passing an examination under this section. 
The board shall adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A to carry out the provisions of this paragraph. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates a process that allows a holder of a license to practice funeral services 
in another state with substantially similar licensure requirements as this State who has 
practiced for at least 2 consecutive years immediately prior to applying for a license in 
this State to receive a provisional license to practice funeral services.  To obtain a 
permanent license, the person is required to pass the examination for licensure to practice 
funeral services within a year of receiving the provisional license.