Read the full stored bill text
1
Committee Print B26-0047 1 Committee on Health 2 July 8, 2026 3 4 5 6 A BILL 7 8 9 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10 11 12 13 To amend the District of Columbia Funeral Services Regulatory Act of 1984 to modify and add 14 definitions related to the practice of funeral directing and embalming, to change the 15 requirements for a funeral director’s license and to create an embalmer’s license, to 16 modify requirements for a funeral directing or embalming apprenticeship, to revise 17 supervision requirements for embalming and funeral director apprentices, and to 18 incorporate the practice of embalming into the provisions governing fraud and grounds 19 for denial, suspension, or revocation of a license; and to amend section 47-2853.06 of the 20 District of Columbia Official Code to update the composition of the Board of Funeral 21 Directors. 22 23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 24 act may be cited as the “Funeral Services Modernization Amendment Act of 2026”. 25 Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Funeral Services Regulatory Act of 1984, effective 26 May 22, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-84; D.C. Official Code § 3-401 et seq.), is amended as follows: 27 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 3-401) is amended by striking the phrase “apprentice 28 funeral directors,” and inserting the phrase “embalmers, apprenticeships,” in its place. 29 (b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 3-402) is amended as follows: 30 (1) Paragraph (2) is repealed. 31 (2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “for the District of Columbia” 32 and inserting the phrase “established by D.C. Official Code § 47-2853.06(f)” in its place. 33 (3) A new paragraph (7A) is added to read as follows: 34
2
“(7A) “Embalmer” means a person licensed in the District to perform the practice 35 of embalming.”. 36 (4) Paragraph (9) is amended to read as follows: 37 “(9) “Funeral director” means a person licensed by the District to perform the 38 practice of funeral directing.”. 39 (5) Paragraph (14) is amended to read as follows: 40 “(14) “License” means an authority from the District which entitles the holder to 41 practice in the District as a funeral director or an embalmer, or an authority from the District 42 which entitles the holder to own and operate a funeral services establishment.”. 43 (6) A new paragraph (17A) is added to read as follows: 44 “(17A) “Practice of embalming” means engaging in the disposal of human 45 remains by chemically treating the human remains by arterial injection and cavity treatment or, 46 when necessary, hypodermic tissue injection to reduce the presence and growth of 47 microorganisms to temporarily delay organic decomposition.”. 48 (7) Paragraph (18) is amended to read as follows: 49 “(18) “Practice of funeral directing” means the for-profit profession of directing 50 or supervising funerals, preparing human dead for burial by means other than through the 51 practice of embalming, including by burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis, or making 52 arrangements for funeral services or the financing of funeral services.”. 53 (c) Section 5(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-404(a)) is amended by striking the phrase 54 “practice of funeral directing” and inserting the phrase “practices of funeral directing and 55 embalming” in its place. 56 (d) Section 6 (D.C. Official Code § 3-405) is amended as follows: 57
3
(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows: 58 (A) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) are amended to read as follows: 59 “(2) Has completed a funeral director apprenticeship; 60 “(3) Is a graduate of a school of mortuary science or funeral service accredited by 61 the American Board of Funeral Service Education or an accrediting agency approved by the U.S. 62 Department of Education or have completed an associate’s degree or its equivalent, which 63 consists of at least 60 credit hours of coursework, of which at least 30 hours shall be from a 64 funeral directing program approved by the Board; 65 “(4) Has passed the Arts section of the National Board Examination administered 66 by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards;”. 67 (B) Paragraph (6) is amended by striking the semicolon and inserting the 68 phrase “; and” in its place. 69 (C) Paragraph (7) is repealed. 70 (2) Subsection (d) is repealed. 71 (3) New subsections (d-1) and (d-2) are added to read as follows: 72 “(d-1) Embalmer’s license. – An applicant for licensure as an embalmer shall furnish 73 proof satisfactory to the Mayor that he or she: 74 “(1) Is at least 18 years of age; 75 “(2) Has completed an embalming apprenticeship; 76 “(3) Is a graduate of a school of mortuary science or funeral service accredited by 77 the American Board of Funeral Service Education or an accrediting agency approved by the U.S. 78 Department of Education or have completed an embalming program approved by the Board; 79
4
“(4) Has passed the Sciences section of the National Board Examination 80 administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards; 81 “(5) Is fully acquainted with District and federal laws relating to the practice of 82 embalming; 83 “(6) Has paid all required fees; and 84 “(7) Has met any additional requirements set by the Mayor. 85 “(d-2) Notwithstanding subsection (d-1) of this section, a person licensed as a funeral 86 director prior to the effective date of this subsection shall automatically receive an embalmer’s 87 license.”. 88 (4) Subsection (e)(5) is amended by striking the phrase “, apprentice funeral 89 directors,” and inserting the phrase “, embalmers, certified apprentices,” in its place. 90 (5) Subsection (g) is amended as follows: 91 (A) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “and apprentice 92 funeral director’s license” and inserting the phrase “, embalmer’s license, or certificate of 93 apprenticeship” in its place. 94 (B) Paragraph (7) is amended by striking the phrase “an apprentice funeral 95 director’s license,” and inserting the phrase “an embalmer’s license, a certificate of 96 apprenticeship,” in its place. 97 (6) Subsection (i) is amended to read as follows: 98 “(i)(1) The Board may issue a license to: 99 “(A) Practice as a funeral director in the District to an applicant who is 100 licensed by another state by waiver of the examination and apprenticeship requirements of 101 subsection (a) of this section; or 102
5
“(B) Practice as an embalmer in the District to an applicant who is 103 licensed by another state by waiver of the examination and apprenticeship requirements of 104 subsection (d-1) of this section. 105 “(2) An applicant for a license to practice as a funeral director or embalmer in the 106 District shall furnish proof to the Board that he or she: 107 “(A) Is currently in good standing as a funeral director or embalmer in a 108 state or territory of the United States with requirements for licensure that are substantially similar 109 to those in effect in the District; 110 “(B) Is at least 18 years of age; 111 “(C) Has paid all required fees; and 112 “(D) Is fully acquainted with District and federal laws relating to the 113 license sought.”. 114 (e) Section 7(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-406(a)) is amended to read as follows: 115 “(a) A license to practice in the District as either a funeral director or embalmer, or to 116 operate a funeral services establishment, shall be issued to each applicant who meets all of the 117 requirements for licensure.”. 118 (f) Section 8 (D.C. Official Code § 3-407) is amended to read as follows: 119 “Sec. 8. Apprenticeships. 120 “(a)(1) A person seeking to qualify: 121 “(A) As a funeral director, shall serve as an apprentice under the direct 122 supervision of a funeral director licensed in the District. 123 “(B) As an embalmer, shall serve as an apprentice under the direct 124 supervision of an embalmer licensed in the District. 125
6
“(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, an apprentice who is 126 required to serve a 2-year minimum apprenticeship may serve up to 1 year of the apprenticeship 127 outside of the District, if the period of the apprenticeship served outside of the District is served 128 under the supervision of an individual who has passed the National Board Exam administered by 129 the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. 130 “(b) To qualify for an apprenticeship, the applicant shall furnish proof that he or she is: 131 “(1) Is at least 18 years of age; and 132 “(2) Holds a high school diploma or its equivalent, or higher. 133 “(c) An apprenticeship for funeral directing or embalming shall consist of at least 2,000 134 hours of training to be completed in 2 years; provided, that an apprenticeship may be extended, 135 for good cause, to no more than 4 years . 136 “(d) A funeral directing apprentice shall receive training in all aspects of the practice of 137 funeral directing, including assisting with at least 25 funerals and 25 arrangement conferences, 138 visitations, and the financing of funeral services. 139 “(e) An embalming apprentice shall receive training in all aspects of the practice of 140 embalming, including assisting in at least 25 embalmings, treatment, restorative art, safety and 141 sanitation, and organ, tissue, or anatomical donations. 142 “(f)(1) The apprentice and the licensee supervising the apprentice shall submit a written 143 report to the Board at the end of every 1,000 hours of training that specifies the period of time in 144 which the 1,000 hours has been completed and verifies that the apprentice has actually served in 145 the required capacity during the preceding period. The report shall be submitted no more than 30 146 days following the completion of the 1,000 hours. 147
7
“(2) An apprentice shall not receive credit for any new training hours until the 148 previous 1,000-hour report has been submitted and approved. 149 “(g) An apprentice whose employment under the supervision of a funeral director or 150 embalmer is terminated shall, within 30 days of being employed to work under the supervision of 151 another funeral director or embalmer, notify the Mayor of the change of employment and the 152 name, address, and license number of the funeral director or embalmer under whose supervision 153 the apprentice is continuing his or her apprenticeship. 154 “(h) A funeral director or embalmer shall, upon employing an apprentice or terminating 155 the employment of an apprentice, notify the Mayor in writing. The notification shall contain the 156 name and address of the apprentice, and the date on which the apprentice was employed or 157 terminated. 158 “(i) The Mayor shall issue rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this 159 section, including the establishment of fees for apprenticeship applications, pursuant to section 160 22a.”. 161 (g) Section 9(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-408(a)) is amended as follows: 162 (1) The lead-in language of subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: 163 “(a) The Mayor may refuse to approve or issue a renewal of a license, or may order 164 restrictions, impose a fine, impose conditions on the practices of funeral directing or embalming, 165 or suspend or revoke the license of any applicant or licensee if the Mayor finds that the applicant 166 or licensee has:”. 167 (2) Paragraph (8) is amended to read as follows: 168 “(8) Engaged in misrepresentation or fraud in the conduct of the business of a 169 funeral services establishment as a funeral director, embalmer, or apprentice;”. 170
8
(h) Section 12 (D.C. Official Code § 3-411) is amended as follows: 171 (1) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows; 172 “(a) No person shall engage in the practice of funeral directing or embalming in the 173 District of Columbia without being licensed in accordance with this act.”. 174 (2) Subsection (b) is amended to read as follows: 175 “(b) No funeral services establishment licensee shall engage in, or permit any employee 176 or agent to engage in, the practices of funeral directing or embalming unless the person 177 performing these duties is a funeral director or embalmer licensed pursuant to this act or an 178 apprentice approved licensed pursuant to this chapter and under the direct or immediate 179 supervision of a licensed funeral director or embalmer as required by this act. The direct or 180 immediate supervision requirement shall not extend to employees whose duties are limited to the 181 business management activities of the establishment.”. 182 (3) Subsection (e) is amended to read as follows: 183 “(e) No person licensed as a funeral director or embalmer, approved for an 184 apprenticeship, or licensed to operate a funeral services establishment shall allow any other 185 person to use or practice under his or her license.”. 186 (i) Section 15 (D.C. Official Code § 3-414) is amended to read as follows: 187 “Sec. 15. Services requiring direct supervision by an embalmer. 188 “The handling, preparation, or embalming of human remains shall at all times be done by 189 a licensed embalmer, or in the case of an embalming apprentice, under the direct supervision of a 190 licensed embalmer.”. 191 (j) Section 17(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-416(a)) is amended to read as follows: 192
9
“(a) Any person holding a funeral director’s license or an embalmer’s license, or any 193 person approved for an apprenticeship, shall, within 5 days after any change of business or 194 residence address, notify the Mayor in writing of the change.”. 195 (k) Section 20 (D.C. Official Code § 3-419) is amended by striking the phrase “or 196 apprentice funeral directing” and inserting the phrase “the unlawful practice of embalming, the 197 unlawful practice of apprentice funeral directing or embalming” in its place. 198 (l) Section 22b (D.C. Official Code § 3-421) is amended to read as follows: 199 “Sec. 22b. Services requiring immediate supervision. 200 “(a) A funeral directing apprentice shall not perform the following services unless he or 201 she is under the immediate supervision of a licensed funeral director: 202 “(1) The handling or preparing human remains for identification, viewing, 203 transportation, funeral services, or disposition; 204 “(2) Conducting or directing a funeral; or 205 “(3) Advising consumers making arrangements for the care and disposition of 206 human remains, including arrangements made prior to the death of a person. 207 “(b) An embalming apprentice shall not perform the following services unless he or she is 208 under the immediate supervision of a licensed embalmer: 209 “(1) Embalming human remains, including the preservation, disinfection, 210 sanitization, or treatment of human remains for the purpose of delaying decomposition; 211 “(2) Performing any procedure involving arterial injection, cavity treatment, 212 tissue preservation, restorative treatment, or other preparation of human remains that constitutes 213 embalming; or 214
10
“(3) The removal or transport of human remains when such removal or transport 215 is performed for the purpose of embalming or in connection with embalming services.”. 216 Sec. 3. Section 47-2853.06(f) of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended by 217 striking the phrase “5 members of whom 4 shall be funeral directors licensed in the District and 218 one shall be a consumer member and inserting the phrase “7 members of whom 4 shall be 219 funeral directors licensed in the District, 2 shall be consumer members, and one shall be a 220 member with expertise in cremation or alkaline hydrolysis” in its place. 221 Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 222 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 223 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 224 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 225 Sec. 5. Effective date. 226 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 227 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 228 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 229 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1 206.02(c)(1)). 230