Chapter 170 Oregon Laws 2007

 

AN ACT

 

SB 545

 

Relating to persons regulated by State Mortuary and Cemetery Board; amending ORS 692.045, 692.140 and 692.190.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. ORS 692.140 is amended to read:

          692.140. (1) The State Mortuary and Cemetery Board shall issue a license to practice as a funeral service practitioner or an embalmer to an applicant from another state if:

          (a) The applicant for recognition of the license applies to the board and fulfills the requirements specified in subsection (2) of this section; and

          (b) The board is satisfied that the applicant has the requisite qualifications for licensing as a funeral service practitioner or an embalmer in this state.

          (2) An applicant under this section shall apply to the board on a form provided by the board. The applicant shall include [the following] with the application:

          (a) Proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant is licensed in good standing in another state and has practiced as a funeral service practitioner or an embalmer who was licensed and in good standing in another state for [the two] three of the five years immediately preceding the application date.

          [(b) Proof satisfactory to the board of compliance, in the state in which the applicant is regularly licensed, with requirements substantially equal to the requirements of this chapter.]

          [(c)] (b) Payment of the initial reciprocity licensing fee established under ORS 692.160.

 

          SECTION 2. ORS 692.190 is amended to read:

          692.190. (1) An individual who wishes to engage as an apprentice shall apply to the State Mortuary and Cemetery Board for registration as a funeral service practitioner apprentice or an embalmer apprentice upon a form provided by the board. The individual must consent to a background check, including information solicited from the Department of State Police. The application must be accompanied by the fee established under ORS 692.160.

          (2) One funeral service practitioner apprentice at a time is authorized to operate under or in connection with each licensed funeral service practitioner practicing in this state for the purpose of learning the functions of a funeral service practitioner.

          (3) One embalmer apprentice at a time is authorized to engage in the study of the art of embalming under the instruction and supervision of each licensed embalmer practicing in this state.

          (4) The duration of an apprenticeship required for licensure is:

          (a) Twelve months for a funeral service practitioner apprentice.

          (b) Twelve months for an embalmer apprentice.

          [(5) The apprenticeship of a funeral service practitioner apprentice:]

          [(a) Shall not include time lost by interruptions caused by active duty of the applicant in the military service of the United States or its allies during war or national emergency, or time lost through attendance of formal funeral service education, or time lost by interruptions that the board finds excusable under rules of the board.]

          [(b) Shall be completed not more than two years before or after the date of the examination under ORS 692.070, excluding time lost for interruptions described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.]

          (5) A person may serve as a funeral service practitioner apprentice for an aggregate total of not more than 48 months. In computing time under this subsection, the board shall exclude time lost by interruptions caused by active duty of the apprentice in the military service of the United States or its allies during war or national emergency and by interruptions that the board finds are excusable under rules of the board.

          (6) An embalmer apprentice may serve the apprenticeship concurrently with the funeral service practitioner apprenticeship.

          (7) [An embalmer apprentice shall complete the required apprenticeship within a period of not more than four consecutive years and not more than two years before the date of the examination under ORS 692.130.] A person may serve as an embalmer apprentice for an aggregate total of not more than 48 months. In computing time under this subsection, the board shall exclude time lost by interruptions caused by active duty of the apprentice in the military service of the United States or its allies during war or national emergency and by interruptions that the board finds are excusable under rules of the board.

          (8) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a licensed funeral service practitioner or a licensed embalmer may serve as a preceptor for not more than three students serving a funeral service internship in accordance with guidelines established by an accredited funeral service education program.

          [(8)] (9) The board shall adopt rules under which the board may confer credit for apprenticeship service or its equivalency performed by:

          (a) An applicant in another state; or

          (b) An applicant whose license or certificate of apprenticeship has lapsed.

 

          SECTION 3. ORS 692.045 is amended to read:

          692.045. (1) The State Mortuary and Cemetery Board shall issue a license to an individual to practice as a funeral service practitioner if the individual meets the following requirements:

          (a) The individual must apply to the board for a funeral service practitioner’s license on an application form provided by the board.

          (b) The individual must pass an examination conducted by the board under ORS 692.070 following application for the funeral service practitioner’s license.

          (c) The individual must successfully complete practical experience as a funeral service practitioner’s apprentice under ORS 692.190.

          (2) An individual may not take an examination under ORS 692.070 until the individual has provided written evidence of graduation from an associate degree program meeting the requirements established by board rule.

          (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, an applicant with four years of experience as a licensed funeral service practitioner or embalmer in this state or in another state is not required to provide written evidence of graduation from an associate degree program in order to take the examination under ORS 692.070.

 

Approved by the Governor May 25, 2007

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 25, 2007

 

Effective date January 1, 2008

__________