Funeral director apprenticeships

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.