AB 837

This bill makes various changes to laws regarding funeral director apprentices,

including all of the following:

1. Under current law, in order to become a funeral director apprentice, a person

must satisfy a number of requirements, including completing one academic year of

instruction in a recognized college or university in a course of study approved by the

Funeral Director Examining Board or have equivalent education. This bill replaces

the one year of instruction or equivalent education requirement with a requirement

that a person complete a 16-hour certification course approved by the board.

2. Under current law, only one funeral director apprenticeship may be

recognized by the board at a funeral establishment in a current year that has had less

than 150 funeral services or prepared less than 150 bodies for burial or shipment

during the preceding year; the board may recognize a second funeral director

apprenticeship at a funeral establishment that during the current year has had 150

funerals or more and has prepared 150 bodies or more for burial or shipment during

the preceding year, provided that at least two licensed funeral directors are employed

full time at that establishment.

The bill removes any distinction as to how many funeral director apprentices

may be recognized based upon the number of funerals or bodies prepared and allows

a funeral establishment at which one or two licensed funeral directors are employed

to have up to two apprentices, but requires that, in order to have three or more

apprentices, a funeral establishment must have one full-time employed licensed

funeral director for each apprentice.

3. Current law limits funeral director apprenticeships to four years, with the

possibility of an additional extension granted by the board of up to one year. Under

the bill, after four years or after an extension if an extension is given, a funeral

director apprenticeship may continue if the apprentice again completes an approved

certification course described above.

4. Current law requires that apprentices be under the personal supervision of

a licensed funeral director, but does not further specify as to what supervision is

required. The bill provides that supervision of an apprentice, when an apprentice

is in a funeral establishment's preparation room, requires that the apprentice is

within the funeral director's line of sight.