The State Board of Funeral Service may determine the qualifications necessary to enable any person to lawfully engage in the funeral service profession and operate a funeral establishment. The board shall examine all applicants for licenses for the practice of funeral service and shall issue a license to all persons who successfully pass that examination and pay the fee as set under section 1504. To be licensed for the practice of funeral service under this chapter, a person must be at least 18 years of age, must have successfully completed a prescribed course at a school or schools approved by the State Board of Funeral Service and must have served as a practitioner trainee for not less than 12 months under the personal supervision of a person licensed for the practice of funeral service and approved by the board. Each applicant shall demonstrate trustworthiness and competency to engage in the profession of funeral service in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public. [PL 2017, c. 210, Pt. C, §1 (AMD).] Each applicant for licensure as a practitioner of funeral service, funeral director or embalmer must be examined on the courses as outlined in the board's rules. [PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. J, §9 (AMD).] All funeral establishments and branches must be operated by a person or persons holding a funeral director's license, which was initially issued before January 1, 1989, or a practitioner of funeral service license. That license must be displayed at or in any such establishment or branch. [PL 1989, c. 450, §22 (NEW).] A funeral establishment, in which the preparation of dead bodies takes place, must contain a preparation room equipped with tile, cement or composition floor, necessary drainage or proper disposal of waste satisfactory to the local health officer, ventilation and necessary instruments and supplies for the preparation and embalming of dead human bodies for burial, transportation or other disposition. [PL 1989, c. 450, §22 (AMD).] The board may adopt such rules and classifications as may be reasonable, sufficient and proper to define what shall be deemed the proper drainage and ventilation and what instruments are necessary and suitable in a funeral establishment. [PL 1989, c. 450, §22 (AMD).] The board shall adopt rules governing the safety of drivers of vehicles owned, leased or otherwise used by a practitioner of funeral service or a funeral establishment for the transport of human remains. Rules adopted under this paragraph are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [PL 2021, c. 268, §1 (NEW).] The board may adopt rules governing its own procedure. It may adopt rules consistent with the law governing the time, place, method and grading of examinations. Written examinations shall be retained for a period of 5 years, but need not be retained for a longer period. The board may waive all or part of the licensing requirements and qualifications of this chapter if in its judgment these requirements and qualifications are in conflict with the religious faith of an applicant. [PL 1989, c. 450, §22 (AMD).]
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