Click on CFDA logo to return to CFDA home page
Colorado Funeral Directors Association
 Professionalism, Standards, Compassion & Service since 1898 
About the AssociationMembershipState LawsCertificationFor ConsumersCalendarPublicationsLeaders
JobsCareer in Funeral ServiceLinks & ResourcesHistoryHome Page

Quick Links

TSA Extends Known Shipper Registration Deadline to August 1

CFDA Education Seminar on June 18

The latest issue of the CFDA News is available online now

Governor signs Mortuary Science Registration Act on June 4

New job listing posted June 5, 2009

Preneed Issues



Governor Ritter Signs HB 1202, Mortuary Science Registration Bill
June 4, 2009

Governor Bill Ritter signed HB1202 into law today at the State Capital. The ceremony was witnessed by the bill's sponsor, Rep. Nancy Todd, and more than a dozen representatives from the Colorado funeral service community.

The law provides a level of oversight and basic standards of practice for funeral homes and crematories in Colorado.

"My Aurora ally, former Rep. Debbie Stafford, fought for years to effect this simple change to protect families in their time of grief," said Rep. Todd. "We license everyone from manicurists to physicians to help protect citizens from scam artists, so it's high time that we provide that same level of accountability with funeral directors and mortuaries. No one wants to be concerned with the mishandling of their loved ones upon death."

The new laws will go into effect July 1, 2009, but will not be implemented until January 2010.

Click here for a PDF copy of the Act.

Governor Bill Ritter signs bill




Colorado Governor
Bill Ritter signs the
Mortuary Science Registration Act
into law
on June 4, 2009.

Click here for more photos
.
Back to the Basics - September 9-11, 2009

Crowne Plaza Denver International Airport Hotel & Convention Center, Denver, Colorado

Learn more about the 2009 CFDA and CAC Combined Convention          REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON
Funeral Service Representatives Meet with DORA and AG Staff About Preneed Issues

A group of Preneed Stakeholders met in May with representatives from the Colorado Attorney General's Office to learn more about the charges filed in a pending lawsuit against Neptune Management Corporation, d/b/a/ The Neptune Society.

 

After a complaint lodged by a consumer in 2008 and subsequent investigation by the Colorado Division of Insurance, Neptune Management Corporation faces several charges including:

  • plan and practice to avoid compliance with preneed trusting requirements,

  • violations of the general provider agreements,

  • conditioning the sale of a preneed contract upon the purchase of a second contract, and,

  • violation of several tenets of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

 

The trial will begin September 17, 2009, in the State's Office of Administrative Courts.

 

The Colorado Funeral Directors Association subscribes to a Code of Ethics that members of the funeral service profession should maintain high ideals of public service and behavior; apply conduct befitting good citizens; and engage in honesty and fairness in all offerings of service and merchandise, and in all business transactions.

The allegations of illegal practices conducted by the Neptune Society do not reflect the tenets of CFDA's Code of Ethics. More significantly, these allegations do not promote confidence or trust in the hundreds of honorable funeral service professionals who conduct business according to State laws that pertain to Preneed Funeral Contracts.

 

The Colorado Funeral Directors Association recognizes the Colorado Insurance Commissioner and the Colorado Attorney General's Office for their efforts to protect consumers from fraudulent activity. CFDA hopes that there is a speedy resolution to the Neptune Society matter and that consumers will remain confident in the high level of trust, honor and respect provided by members of the funeral service profession in Colorado.


CFDA representatives met recently with staff from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform to discuss preneed insurance issues.

As required by law, DORA staff is conducting a Sunset Review of Colorado's Division of Insurance functions related to regulation of property and casualty, automobile, and any other entity or function that does not offer health, life, property, casualty, or automobile insurance by the Division.

Recommendations made by CFDA members include random, periodic audits of preneed contract license holders to ensure compliance, and establishing regular communication with Division of Insurance staff to discuss preneed issues, perhaps through a CFDA-appointed task force.

DORA's report and recommendations will be issued later this year.

 


TSA Extends Known Shipper Compliance Deadline
NFDA reports that the Transportation Security Administration has extended the compliance deadline for Known Shippers to August 1, 2009.

According to an email  from TSA Cargo General Manager Ed Kelley, "Because of the concerns expressed by the airlines and funeral industry, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) acting administrator has issued a 30-day extension to the July 1, 2009, requirement for human remains shipment to be accepted only from known shippers. The new deadline is August 1, 2009."
The requirement for becoming a TSA Known Shipper is still in effect, however, funeral homes have more time to get registered. Some airlines have been inundated with requests and are experiencing delays in fulfilling inspection and registration requirements.

CFDA members are encouraged to consider SR International Logistics to avoid hassles of multiple airline registratiom.
You don't have to be a Known Shipper expert. Let SR International Logistics do the work for you.

Effective August 1, 2009, all human remains shipments originating in the U.S. or its territories must be tendered by a “known shipper.”
This policy will apply to all airlines accepting human remains for transport, and requires funeral homes to register as a “known shipper” for each airline they use to ship bodies.
The process will require an inspection and payment of an inspection fee, and can create an administrative burden on funeral homes to register with multiple airlines.

Save time and hassle!  SR International Logistics can get your establishment registered in TSA's Known Shipper Management System.

Click here to learn more about TSA's Known Shipper requirements and CFDA's discount program with SR International Logistics

CFDA Embalming & Restorative Arts Seminar
Thursday, June 18, 2009 at The Heartlight Center, Denver

     Ken Whittaker leads class    Ken Whittaker leads CFDA Seminar on June 18   Ken Whittaker leads CFDA Seminar on June 18

Many thanks to Randy Emmert and Pierce Chemicals for sponsoring Ken Whittaker for this program;
to Chuck Bowman MSP/CFSP for presenting an Update on Colorado Regulatory Issues;
and to The Heartlight Center and Horan & McConaty for hosting the event.

Funeral Service Legislation

Many thanks to the diligent members of CFDA and the Legislative Committee who actively supported House Bill 09-1202.

CFDA also extends sincere appreciation to our bill sponsors, Rep. Nancy Todd and Sen. Joyce Foster.

Click here to for a link to the Funeral Service Legislation page that chronicles CFDA's efforts this year.


CFDA's 2009 Legislative Committee

These dedicated individuals engaged in many hours of discussions, attended numerous meetings, and testified in support of HB 1202 at the State Capital during the 2009 Legislative Session.

Chuck Bowman, MSP/CFSP, Horan & McConaty Funeral Service, Lakewood -- Committee Chairperson
Elvin Caldwell, Jr., CFD, Caldwell-Kirk Mortuary, Denver
George A. Malesich, CFD, Malesich and Shirey Funeral Home, Arvada
Eric Wolverton, MSP/CFSP, SCI Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, Littleton
Bill Clayton, Lombard & Clayton - CFDA' s Lobbyist
Tony Lombard, Lombard & Clayton - CFDA's Lobbyist
Steffani G. Blackstock, CFDA - Executive Director

Do you have an article, announcement, comment or fact to share?
Please email to CFDA or fax to 303-395-2609 and it may be published in an upcoming newsletter.


Colorado Funeral Directors Association, P. O. Box 631664, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163-1664
Phone 303-791-2336   Fax 303-395-2609   Email to CFDA

2006-2009, All rights reserved. Colorado Funeral Directors Association.