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  April 25, 2008
Vital Statistics Training Conference

Today CFDA attended the first training conference hosted by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's Office of the State Registrar and Vital Statistics. Other participants included local vital records offices, registered midwives, birthing hospitals, physicians, funeral homes and coroners. Sessions included handling of shipping human remains to Mexico and Latin America, forensic art, death certificate guidelines, working with families of suicide victims, and plans for electronic death registry system.

Continuing education credit for education sessions was approved by the Colorado Funeral Service Board.

Many thanks to Ron Hyman, Renee Bear and other Vital Statistics staff for a great day of information and networking.


April 25, 2008
Convention Seeks Sponsorships

Sponsorships are available for the 2008 CFDA-CAC Combined Convention in Vail, September 3-5.

      Click here for more details about the Convention and Vendor Prospectus


April 24, 2008
CFDA Forced to Change Gears

CFDA representatives faced a difficult decision today and was forced to "kill" House Bill 1123.

CFDA maintains that this legislation represents the best interests of funeral service professionals in Colorado and is disappointed that consumers won't benefit from the profession's efforts to enforce standards and accountability to prevent harm and discontinue bad practices.

Plans for future legislation are undecided but it is unlikely that CFDA will offer another licensing/registration bill in 2008.


April 24, 2008
HB 1123 Clears Senate BLT Committee

The Senate Business Labor and Technology Committee meeting was unexpectedly moved up to Wednesday, April 23. The good news is that HB 1123 and amendment L.012 passed the Senate committee by vote of 5-2.  The self-funded bill is scheduled for Senate Appropriations committee on Friday, April 25.


April 23, 2008
CFDA and DORA Discuss Compromise

CFDA representatives met with DORA staff on April 21 and April 22 to explain more about the practice of funeral service and discuss possibilities for a compromise amendment.  

CFDA expressed several key areas of concern including:

·  Need for registration, qualifications, standards of practice, and accountability for individual funeral service practitioners

·  Limits of liability and disciplinary action for employee manager vs. funeral home owner

·  Necessity for random inspections of funeral establishments

·  Advisory group of funeral service professionals to assist with rulemaking and complaint process

·  Retain Cremation section as proposed in the original bill

·  Retain the Unlawful Acts additions as proposed in the original bill

Citing that the Sunrise Review did not outline enough documented cases of harm to consumers, DORA stated its primary objective is to provide a mechanism for consumers to report complaints and held firm on the following positions:

  1. Allow for one registration per funeral establishment – either a facility manager OR a generic “funeral service practitioner” – who is held accountable for all operations of the establishment.
  2. The Department will not consider any licenses or registrations for individual funeral service practitioners.
  3. The Department will not define the scope of practice for Funeral Directors, Embalmers or Cremationists. They suggest that a “funeral service practitioner” is a generic category without recognition of the unique duties of Funeral Directors, Embalmers or Cremationists.
  4. The Department will not recognize experience, education or basic training qualifications for funeral service practitioners.


April 22, 2008
CFDA Works with DORA on Compromise

CFDA representatives met with DORA executive director Rico Munn and several DORA staff members yesterday to discuss possibilities for a compromise amendment to HB08-1123.

CFDA expressed concerns about DORA's amendment that holds a Manager responsible for the operations of the establishment without defining standards of practice and accountability by individual funeral service practitioners.

 


April 17, 2008
Legislative Bill Hits a Snag

CFDA representatives testified on Wednesday before the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee about House Bill 08-1123.

Senator Jennifer Veiga introduced a “strike below” amendment that effectively ELIMINATES ALL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY that CFDA has long advocated.

 


April 8, 2008
CFDA Spring Newsletter now available online


       Click here to read the Spring issue of the CFDA News.

March 31, 2008
Mortuary Science Bill moves on to Senate

House Bill 08-1123 was heard this morning by the full House of Representatives for its Third and final reading. The bill was adopted by majority vote of 41-24 after discussion both in favor and in opposition to the bill.

The legislation will move on to the State Senate and will likely be scheduled for first reading in the coming week.

 


March 28, 2008

CFDA Legislative Update

House Bill 08-1123 was heard this morning by the full House of Representatives for its Second Reading. The bill was adopted by majority vote after discussion both in favor and in opposition to the bill. An amendment was also adopted that will require funeral establishments to disclose to consumers other funeral businesses under common control or ownership and therefore allow consumers to make an informed choice.


March 10, 2008
CFDA-CAC Combined Convention
September 3-5, 2008 


The Vail Cascade Resort and Spa in Vail, CO will be the destination for the CFDA-CAC Combined Convention -- Wednesday, September 3 through Friday, September 5, 2008.

Details will be available soon about the convention schedule and exhibitor information.

      Click here for additional details.

February 5, 2008
Funeral Service Legislation Takes Step Forward

The Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee voted this week to amend House Bill 1123 with changes proposed by CFDA and the bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee after a 7-4 decision.

This legislation will promote consumer confidence by requiring registration and minimum standards of competence for funeral service practitioners, and offers an added level of protection through facility registration to ensure compliance with recognized industry practices, operational guidelines, and basic health and safety standards.


January 17, 2008
New Mortuary Science Bill Introduced in Colorado Legislature

A new legislative bill was introduced on January 15  that will regulate funeral service practices in Colorado. House Bill 08-1123 is sponsored by Representative Debbie Stafford and Senator Larry Johnson.

CFDA was instrumental in composing the bill that seeks to restore minimum standards for funeral establishments and practitioners. The funeral service profession includes more than 1,000 individuals with varied skill levels and encompasses a wide range of services that serve the general public.

The CFDA supports registration for all funeral establishments to offer better consumer protection through compliance with recognized industry standards, operational guidelines, and health and safety standards.

   


January 17, 2008
CFDA January newsletter available online

     Download the January 2008 issue of CFDA News in PDF


January 3, 2008
CFDA Prepares for Next Legislative Session

The CFDA Legislative Task Force is preparing a new funeral service bill to be introduced in the Colorado General Assembly which convenes January 9.

Rep. Debbie Stafford has agreed to sponsor another funeral service bill and has met with CFDA representatives to discuss regulatory options.

Visit www.cofda.org to see ongoing updates regarding funeral service legislation.



January 3, 2008
Certifications lapse after January 30

CFSB certified professionals must renew their annual certification no later than January 30, 2008. After this date, certification will technically "lapse" and an additional $25 late fee will apply to reinstate certification through December 2008.

Active status for MSP, CFD, CET and Intern certification requires evidence of at least six (6) contact hours of continuing education completed since October 2006. Evidence may include a certificate of attendance for educational programs; a statement from a professional or civic organization in which you served; an outline of a presentation you delivered to an audience; or a reference letter from a community group, to demonstrate how and when CE credits were earned.

Education programs approved by the Colorado Funeral Service Board, CFDA, NFDA, ICCFA, or the Academy of Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) may be applicable for CE credit.

Certifications may be renewed at Inactive status if less than six CE contact hours have been achieved or if insufficient CE evidence included with renewals.



December 6, 2007
DORA Recommends Registration in Sunrise Review

In its final report of the Sunrise Review to consider regulations for funeral service practitioners in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies has recommended to implement a new registration system to require a Funeral Director at each establishment to register with the Division of Registrations. In addition, funeral service establishments will provide a disclosure statement informing consumers who to contact in the event they desire to file a formal complaint.

                   Click here to view the PDF version of the 2007 Sunrise Report

 


November 9, 2007
Certification Renewals due no later than Jan.  30

Statements were mailed to CFSB certified professionals last week to renew their certifications. All certifications expire after December 31, 2007 and must be renewed by January 30, 2008 to remain current and avoid late fees. Annual certification fees for CFSB certification are $65 for MSP, CFD, CET or INT, and $85 for dual CFD/CET certification.

Each year more funeral professionals are recognizing the benefits of voluntary professional certification and there are now more than 215 individuals who maintain CFSB certification. By maintaining strict standards, the CFSB enjoys reciprocity with many other states that are under a licensure system.

 

 
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Colorado Funeral Directors Association
P. O. Box 631664, Highlands Ranch, CO 80163-1664
Phone 303-791-2336       Fax 720-344-5297      
Email to CFDA

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Last update 04/25/2008