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Colorado Funeral Directors Association Professionalism, Standards, Compassion & Service since 1898 |
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Colorado state laws will be changing on July 1, 2009. Governor Bill Ritter signed into law HB 09-1202 on June 4, 2009. The new laws will be implemented January 1, 2010. Click here for a PDF copy of this act. House Bill 09-1202 will require that all funeral establishments and crematories register their business(es) with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and appoint a designee as the establishment’s contact person. This designee will retain records of business practices and employees to demonstrate compliance with provisions of the establishment’s registration.
Establishments and crematories must adhere to standards of
practice including maintaining sanitary facilities and operating
equipment in a safe manner; employing universal biological
hazard precautions; taking reasonable care to minimize the risk of
transmitting communicable diseases; and using appropriate motor
vehicles for transport. Crematories will also need to follow
standards for verification and identification throughout the
cremation process.
Some people say that funeral service in Colorado is an industry without regulation. They say this because Colorado's Legislative Assembly abolished the old licensing system for funeral directors in 1982 as being overly bureaucratic, expensive, ineffective and not especially relevant to current business practices. Although funeral directors are not licensed by the State of Colorado, it is not accurate to say funeral service in Colorado unregulated. This page contains a sampling of key laws, regulatory agencies and enforcement authorities involved with funeral service. Please note that it is by no means all inclusive, and also note that laws and regulations are subject to change. In addition to the regulations (noted at right), funeral directors, funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries are subject to all laws that apply to all businesses, including laws relating to, but not limited to:
In addition, funeral directors are businessmen and women. They know that failure to comply with regulations and consumer expectations is bad business. The economic market place itself is a harsh regulator. Colorado Funeral Service Board The Colorado Funeral Service Board (CFSB) -- previously called the Mortuary Science Commission -- was created in 1982 by the funeral service industry to promote professionalism under a voluntary system of certification, registration and the development and maintenance of standards. Individuals may apply for certification based on sufficient education, training and experience and must agree to maintain the standards and ethics of the CFSB. Participation in the professional certification program is strictly voluntary, however, a large number of funeral service practitioners are certified through the CFSB. Since the certification program is voluntary and is not mandated by the State of Colorado, the Colorado Funeral Service Board has no enforcement authority or legal control over violations.
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Click here to read current Guidelines for Operating a Funeral Establishment in Colorado Colorado State Laws The information provided on this site is intended to assist, however it is not to be considered legal advice nor is it to be considered absolute. If you have legal issues, consult your attorney. You should also research Colorado Statutes and other agencies to obtain specifics on regulations referenced below.
1 -
The Mortuary Science Code (CRC 12-54-101 through
109)
To read specific statutes, go to http://www.michie.com/colorado. Be sure to reference the statute numbers listed above.
2 -
The Disposition of Human Remains (CRC
15-19-101 through 108)
3 -
The Filing and Maintenance of Vital
Records (death certificates and related documents)
4 - The Location and Construction of Crematories and
Funeral Homes
5 - The Employment of and Management of Staff
6 - Pre-Need
Funeral Contracts, Funeral Trusts, and other Pre-Need Matters
(CRS Section 10, Article 15;
To read specific statutes, go to http://www.michie.com/colorado. Be sure to reference the statute numbers listed above.
7 - Cemetery
Laws - Covered under State Law (CRC 12-12-101 through 115, CRC
7-47-101 through 108, and (CRC 25-1-654 through 657). To read specific statutes, go to http://www.michie.com/colorado. Be sure to reference the statute numbers listed above.
8 - Disclosure of products and price lists
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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. |
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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. |
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