PRINTER'S NO. 141
No. 144 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY PESCI, TRELLO, GIGLIOTTI, OLASZ, M. N. WRIGHT, PISTELLA AND JAMES, JANUARY 29, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JANUARY 29, 1991
AN ACT 1 Providing for the prevention of unfair or deceptive acts and 2 practices by funeral directors. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Section 1. Short title. 5 Section 2. Definitions. 6 Section 3. Violations. 7 Section 4. Failure to disclose required price information. 8 Section 5. Telephone price disclosures. 9 Section 6. Casket price list. 10 Section 7. Outer burial container price list. 11 Section 8. General price list. 12 Section 9. Statement of funeral goods and services selected. 13 Section 10. Embalming provisions. 14 Section 11. Casket for cremation provisions. 15 Section 12. Required purchase of caskets for direct cremations. 16 Section 13. Outer burial container provisions. 17 Section 14. General provisions on legal and cemetery
1 requirements. 2 Section 15. Provisions on preservative and protective value 3 claims. 4 Section 16. Cash advance provisions. 5 Section 17. Other required purchases. 6 Section 18. Services provided without prior approval. 7 Section 19. Retention of documents. 8 Section 20. Comprehension of disclosures. 9 Section 21. Penalty. 10 Section 22. Effective date. 11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 12 hereby enacts as follows: 13 Section 1. Short title. 14 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Funeral 15 Director Practices Act. 16 Section 2. Definitions. 17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 18 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 19 context clearly indicates otherwise: 20 "Accounting year." The particular calendar year or other 21 one-year period used by a funeral provider in keeping financial 22 records for tax or accounting purposes. 23 "Alternative container." A nonmetal receptacle or enclosure, 24 without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is 25 designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made 26 of cardboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or 27 without an outside covering) or pouches of canvas or other 28 materials. 29 "Board." The State Board of Funeral Directors. 30 "Cash advance item." Any item of service or merchandise 19910H0144B0141 - 2 -
1 described to a purchaser as a "cash advance," "accommodation," 2 "cash disbursement" or similar term. A cash advance item is also 3 any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral 4 provider on the purchaser's behalf. Cash advance items may 5 include, but are not limited to, the following items: cemetery 6 or crematory services, pallbearers, public transportation, 7 clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, 8 obituary notices, gratuities and death certificates. 9 "Casket." A rigid container which is designed for the 10 encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of 11 wood, metal, or like material, and ornamented and lined with 12 fabric. 13 "Cremation." A heating process which incinerates human 14 remains. 15 "Crematory." Any person, partnership or corporation that 16 performs cremation. 17 "Direct cremation." A disposition of human remains by 18 cremation, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with 19 the body present. 20 "Funeral goods." Goods which are sold or offered for sale 21 directly to the public for use in connection with funeral 22 services. 23 "Funeral provider." Any person, partnership or corporation 24 which sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services 25 to the public and is a licensed funeral director under the laws 26 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 27 "Funeral services." Any services which may be used to care 28 for and prepare deceased human bodies for burial, cremation or 29 other final disposition; and to arrange, supervise or conduct 30 the funeral ceremony or the final disposition of deceased human 19910H0144B0141 - 3 -
1 bodies. 2 "Immediate burial." A disposition of human remains by 3 burial, without formal viewing, visitation or ceremony with the 4 body present, except for a graveside service. 5 "Outer burial container." Any container which is designed 6 for placement in the grave around the casket, including, but not 7 limited to, containers commonly known as burial vaults, grave 8 boxes and grave liners. 9 "Person." An individual, partnership, corporation, 10 association, government or governmental subdivision or agency or 11 other entity. 12 "Services of funeral director and staff." The services, not 13 included in prices of other categories in section 8, which may 14 be furnished by a funeral provider in arranging and supervising 15 a funeral, such as conducting the arrangements conference, 16 planning the funeral, obtaining necessary permits and placing 17 obituary notices. 18 "Unfinished wood box." An unornamented casket made of wood 19 which does not have a fixed interior lining. 20 Section 3. Violations. 21 It shall be a violation of this act to engage in unfair or 22 deceptive acts or practices set forth in this act or to fail to 23 comply with the preventive requirements specified in this act, 24 and failure to comply with such preventive requirements may be 25 deemed to be professional misconduct. 26 Section 4. Failure to disclose required price information. 27 In selling or offering to sell funeral goods or funeral 28 services to the public, it is an unfair or deceptive act or 29 practice for a funeral provider to fail to furnish price 30 information disclosing the cost to the purchaser for each of the 19910H0144B0141 - 4 -
1 specific funeral goods and funeral services used in connection 2 with the disposition of deceased human bodies, including at 3 least the price of embalming, transportation of remains, use of 4 facilities, caskets, outer burial containers, immediate burials 5 or direct cremations, to persons inquiring about the purchase of 6 funerals. Any funeral provider who complies with the preventive 7 requirements in sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 is not engaged in the 8 unfair or deceptive acts or practices described in this section. 9 Section 5. Telephone price disclosures. 10 (a) General rule.--Funeral providers shall tell persons who 11 call the funeral provider's place of business and ask about the 12 terms, conditions or prices at which funeral goods or funeral 13 services are offered that price information is available over 14 the telephone. 15 (b) Information.--Funeral providers shall give persons who 16 inquire by telephone about the funeral provider's offerings or 17 prices accurate information from the price lists described in 18 sections 6, 7 and 8 which reasonably answers the question and 19 which is readily available. 20 Section 6. Casket price list. 21 (a) Provision.--Funeral providers shall give a printed or 22 typewritten price list to people who inquire in person about the 23 offerings or prices of caskets or alternative containers. The 24 funeral provider shall offer the list upon beginning a 25 discussion of the caskets or alternative containers, but in any 26 event before showing caskets. The list shall contain at least 27 the retail prices of all caskets and alternative containers 28 offered which do not require special ordering, enough 29 information to identify each, and the effective date for the 30 price list. 19910H0144B0141 - 5 -
1 (b) Alternatives.--In lieu of a written list, other formats, 2 such as notebooks, brochures or charts may be used if they 3 contain the same information as the printed or typewritten list, 4 displayed in a clear and conspicuous manner. However, the 5 funeral providers do not have to make a casket price list 6 available if the funeral providers place on the general price 7 list, specified in section 8, the information which is required 8 by this section. 9 (c) Additional information.--Funeral providers shall place 10 on the list, whether a printed or typewritten list, or on any 11 other format that is used, the name of the funeral provider's 12 place of business and a caption describing the list as a "casket 13 price list." 14 Section 7. Outer burial container price list. 15 (a) Provision.--Funeral providers shall give a printed or 16 typewritten price list to persons who inquire in person about 17 outer burial container offerings or prices. The funeral provider 18 shall offer the list upon beginning a discussion of the 19 containers, but in any event before showing, the containers. The 20 list shall contain at least the retail prices of all outer 21 burial containers offered which do not require special ordering, 22 enough information to identify each container and the effective 23 date for the price listed. 24 (b) Alternatives.--In lieu of a written list, the funeral 25 provider may use other formats, such as notebooks, brochures or 26 charts, if they contain the same information as the printed or 27 typewritten list, displayed in a clear and conspicuous manner. 28 However, the funeral providers do not have to make an outer 29 burial container price list available if the funeral providers 30 place on the general price list, specified in section 8, the 19910H0144B0141 - 6 -
1 information which is required by this section. 2 (c) Additional information.--Funeral providers shall place 3 on the list, whether a printed or typewritten list, or on any 4 other format that is used, the name of the funeral provider's 5 place of business and a caption describing the list as an "outer 6 burial container price list." 7 Section 8. General price list. 8 (a) Provision.--Funeral providers shall give a printed or 9 typewritten price list for retention to persons who inquire in 10 person about funeral arrangements or the prices of funeral goods 11 or funeral services. When people inquire in person about funeral 12 arrangements or the prices of funeral goods or funeral services, 13 the funeral provider shall offer them the list upon beginning a 14 discussion of either funeral arrangements or the selection of 15 any funeral goods or funeral services. This list shall contain 16 all of the following information: 17 (1) The name, address and telephone number of the 18 funeral provider's place of business. 19 (2) A caption describing the list as a "general price 20 list." 21 (3) The effective date for the price list. 22 (4) In immediate conjunction with the price disclosures 23 required by subsection (b), the statement: "This list does 24 not include prices for certain items that you may ask us to 25 buy for you, such as cemetery or crematory services, flowers 26 and newspaper notices. The prices for those items will be 27 shown on your bill or the statement describing the funeral 28 goods and services you selected." 29 (b) Information.--Funeral providers shall include on the 30 price list, in any order, the retail prices (expressed either as 19910H0144B0141 - 7 -
1 the flat fee, or as the price per hour, mile or other unit of 2 computation) and the other information specified for at least 3 each of the following items, if offered for sale: 4 (1) Forwarding the remains to another funeral home, 5 together with a list of the services provided for any quoted 6 price. 7 (2) Receiving remains from another funeral home, 8 together with a list of the services provided for any quoted 9 price. 10 (3) The price range for the direct cremations offered by 11 the funeral provider, together with a separate price for a 12 direct cremation where the purchaser provides the container; 13 separate prices for each direct cremation offered, including 14 an unfinished wood box or alternative container; and a 15 description of the services and container (where applicable) 16 included in each price. 17 (4) The price range for the immediate burials offered by 18 the funeral provider, together with a separate price for an 19 immediate burial where the purchaser provides the casket; 20 separate prices for each immediate burial offered, including 21 a casket or alternative container; and a description of the 22 services and container (where applicable) included in that 23 price. 24 (5) Transfer of remains to funeral home. 25 (6) Embalming. 26 (7) Other preparation of the body. 27 (8) Use of facilities for viewing. 28 (9) Use of facilities for funeral ceremony. 29 (10) Other use of facilities, together with a list of 30 facilities provided by any quoted price. 19910H0144B0141 - 8 -
1 (11) Hearse. 2 (12) Limousine. 3 (13) Other automotive equipment, together with a 4 description of the automotive equipment provided for any 5 quoted price. 6 (14) Acknowledgment cards. 7 (c) Additional information.--Funeral providers shall include 8 on the price list in any order, the following information: 9 (1) Either of the following: 10 (i) The price range for the caskets offered by the 11 funeral provider, together with the statement: "A 12 complete price list will be provided at the funeral 13 home." 14 (ii) The prices of individual caskets disclosed in 15 the manner specified by section 6. 16 (2) Either of the following: 17 (i) The price range for the outer burial containers 18 offered by the funeral provider, together with the 19 statement: "A complete price list will be provided at the 20 funeral home." 21 (ii) The prices of individual outer burial 22 containers, disclosed in the manner specified by section 23 7. 24 (3) The price for the services of the funeral director 25 and staff, together with a list of the principal services 26 provided for any quoted price and, if the charge cannot be 27 declined by the purchaser, the statement: "This fee for our 28 services will be added to the total cost of the funeral 29 arrangements you select." 30 Section 9. Statement of funeral goods and services selected. 19910H0144B0141 - 9 -
1 (a) Provision.--Funeral providers shall give an itemized 2 written statement for retention to each person who arranges a 3 funeral or other disposition of human remains, at the conclusion 4 of the discussion of arrangements. 5 (b) Itemization.--The itemized cash advance prices shall be 6 given to the extent known or reasonably ascertainable. If the 7 cash advance prices are not known or reasonably ascertainable, a 8 good faith estimate shall be given, and a written statement of 9 the actual charges shall be provided before the final bill is 10 paid. 11 (c) Additional information.--Funeral providers may give 12 persons any other price information in any other format, in 13 addition to that required by sections 6, 7 and 8, so long as the 14 statement required by this section is given when required. 15 Section 10. Embalming provisions. 16 (a) General rule.--In seeking or offering to sell funeral 17 goods or funeral services to the public, it is a deceptive act 18 or practice for a funeral provider to: 19 (1) Represent that State or local law requires that a 20 deceased person be embalmed when such is not the case. 21 (2) Fail to disclose that embalming is not required by 22 law except in certain special cases. 23 (b) Prevention.--To prevent deceptive acts or practices in 24 subsection (a), as well as the unfair or deceptive acts or 25 practices set forth in sections 17 and 18(a), funeral providers 26 shall: 27 (1) Not represent that a deceased person is required to 28 be embalmed for direct cremation, immediate burial, a funeral 29 using a sealed casket, or if refrigeration is available and 30 the funeral is without viewing or visitation and with a 19910H0144B0141 - 10 -
1 closed casket when State or local law does not require 2 embalming. 3 (2) Place the following disclosure on the general price 4 list required by section 8, in immediate conjunction with the 5 price shown for embalming: "Except in certain special cases, 6 embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, 7 however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as 8 a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you 9 usually have the right to choose an arrangement which does 10 not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or 11 immediate burial." 12 Section 11. Casket for cremation provisions. 13 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 14 goods or funeral services to the public, it is a deceptive act 15 or practice for a funeral provider to: 16 (1) Represent that State or local law requires a casket 17 for direct cremations. 18 (2) Represent that a casket (other than an unfinished 19 wood box) is required for direct cremations. 20 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the deceptive acts or practices 21 in subsection (a), as well as the unfair or deceptive acts or 22 practices set forth in section 12(a), funeral providers shall 23 place the following disclosure in immediate conjunction with the 24 price range shown for direct cremations: "If you want to arrange 25 a direct cremation, you can use an unfinished wood box or an 26 alternative container. Alternative containers can be made of 27 materials like heavy cardboard or composition materials (with or 28 without an outside covering), or pouches of canvas." This 29 disclosure only has to be placed on the general price list if 30 the funeral provider arranges direct cremations. 19910H0144B0141 - 11 -
1 Section 12. Required purchase of caskets for direct cremations. 2 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 3 goods or funeral services to the public, it is an unfair or 4 deceptive act or practice for a funeral provider to require that 5 a casket other than an unfinished wood box be purchased for 6 direct cremation. 7 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the unfair or deceptive act or 8 practice in subsection (a), funeral providers, if they arrange 9 direct cremations, must make an unfinished wood box or 10 alternative container available for direct cremations. 11 Section 13. Outer burial container provisions. 12 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 13 goods and funeral services to the public, it is a deceptive act 14 or practice for a funeral provider to: 15 (1) Represent that State or local laws or regulations, 16 or particular cemeteries, require outer burial containers 17 when such is not the case. 18 (2) Fail to disclose to persons arranging funerals that 19 State law does not require the purchase of an outer burial 20 container. 21 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the deceptive acts or practices 22 in subsection (a), funeral providers must place the following 23 disclosure on the outer burial container price list required by 24 section 8, in immediate conjunction with those prices: "In most 25 areas of the country, no state or local law makes you buy a 26 container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many 27 cemeteries ask that you have such a container so that the grave 28 will not sink in. Either a burial vault or a grave liner will 29 satisfy these requirements." 30 Section 14. General provisions on legal and cemetery 19910H0144B0141 - 12 -
1 requirements. 2 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 3 goods or funeral services to the public, it is a deceptive act 4 or practice for funeral providers to represent that Federal, 5 State or local laws, or particular cemeteries or crematories, 6 require the purchase of any funeral goods or funeral services 7 when such is not the case. 8 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the deceptive acts or practices 9 in subsection (a), as well as the deceptive acts or practices 10 set forth in sections 10, 11 and 13, funeral providers shall 11 identify and briefly describe in writing on the statement of 12 funeral goods and services selected (required by section 9) any 13 legal, cemetery or crematory requirements which the funeral 14 provider represents to persons as compelling the purchase of 15 funeral goods or funeral services for the funeral which that 16 person is arranging. 17 Section 15. Provisions on preservative and protective value 18 claims. 19 In selling or offering to sell funeral goods or funeral 20 services to the public, it is a deceptive act or practice for a 21 funeral provider to represent that funeral goods have protective 22 features or will protect the body from gravesite substances when 23 such is not the case. 24 Section 16. Cash advance provisions. 25 In selling or offering to sell funeral goods and funeral 26 services to the public, any cash advance items shall reflect the 27 actual cost to the funeral provider. 28 Section 17. Other required purchases. 29 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 30 goods or funeral services, it is an unfair or deceptive act or 19910H0144B0141 - 13 -
1 practice for a funeral provider to condition the furnishing of 2 any funeral good or funeral service to a person arranging a 3 funeral upon the purchase of any other funeral good or funeral 4 service, except as required by law or as otherwise permitted by 5 this section. 6 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the unfair or deceptive act or 7 practice in subsection (a), funeral providers shall: 8 (1) Place the following disclosure in the general price 9 list, immediately above the price required by section (8)(b) 10 and (c): "The goods and services shown below are those we can 11 provide to our customers. You may choose only the items you 12 desire. If legal or other requirements mean you must buy any 13 items you did not specifically ask for, we will explain the 14 reason in writing on the statement we provide, describing the 15 funeral goods and services you selected." If the charge for 16 services of the funeral director and staff may not be 17 declined by the purchaser, the statement shall include the 18 sentence: "However, any funeral arrangements you select will 19 include a charge for our services" between the second and 20 third sentences of the statement specified in this paragraph. 21 (2) Place the following disclosure on the statement of 22 funeral goods and services selected, required by section 9: 23 "Charges are only for those items that are used. If we are 24 required by law to use any items, we will explain the reasons 25 in writing below." 26 (c) Defense.--A funeral provider does not violate this 27 section by failing to comply with a request for a combination of 28 goods or services which would be impossible, impractical or 29 excessively burdensome to provide. 30 Section 18. Services provided without prior approval. 19910H0144B0141 - 14 -
1 (a) General rule.--In selling or offering to sell funeral 2 goods or funeral services to the public, it is an unfair or 3 deceptive act or practice for any provider to embalm a deceased 4 human body for a fee unless: 5 (1) State or local law or regulation requires embalming 6 in the particular circumstances regardless of any funeral 7 choice which the family might make; 8 (2) prior approval for embalming (expressly so 9 described) has been obtained from a family member or other 10 authorized person; or 11 (3) the funeral provider is unable to contact a family 12 member or other authorized person after exercising due 13 diligence, has no reason to believe the family does not want 14 embalming performed, and obtains subsequent approval for 15 embalming already performed (expressly so described). In 16 seeking approval, the funeral provider shall disclose that a 17 fee will be charged if the family selects a funeral which 18 requires embalming, such as a funeral with a viewing, and 19 that no fee will be charged if the family selects a service 20 which does not require embalming, such as direct cremation or 21 immediate burial. 22 (b) Prevention.--To prevent the unfair or deceptive acts or 23 practices in subsection (a), funeral providers shall include on 24 the contract, final bill or other written evidence of the 25 agreement or obligation given to the customer, the statement: 26 "If you selected a funeral which requires embalming, such as a 27 funeral with viewing, you may have to pay for embalming. You do 28 not have to pay for embalming you did not approve if you 29 selected arrangements such as direct cremation or immediate 30 burial. If we charged for embalming, we will explain why below." 19910H0144B0141 - 15 -
1 Section 19. Retention of documents. 2 To prevent the unfair or deceptive acts or practices 3 specified in this act, funeral providers shall retain and make 4 available for inspection by board officials true and accurate 5 copies of the price lists specified in sections 6, 7 and 8, as 6 applicable, for at least one year after the date of their last 7 distribution to customers, and a copy of each statement of 8 funeral goods and services selected, as required by section 9, 9 for at least six years from the date on which the statement was 10 signed. 11 Section 20. Comprehension of disclosures. 12 To prevent the unfair or deceptive acts or practices 13 specified in this act, funeral providers shall make all 14 disclosures required in a clear and conspicuous manner. 15 Section 21. Penalty. 16 Any violation of any provision of this act shall be 17 considered to be fraud and misrepresentation, and the funeral 18 provider shall be subject to license revocation or suspension 19 under section 11 of the act of January 14, 1952 (1951 P.L.1898, 20 No.522), known as the Funeral Director Law. 21 Section 22. Effective date. 22 This act shall take effect in 180 days. L27L63WMB/19910H0144B0141 - 16 -