HBA-ATS, TYH H.B. 2255 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2255
By: Swinford
Business & Industry
6/7/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Funeral homes in Texas are regulated by the Texas Funeral Service
Commission.  Funeral homes must have a price listing of all available
caskets, keep at least five caskets on display, and include the three least
expensive models in the display.  In addition, funeral homes must disclose
material, workmanship, and structural integrity of caskets.   H.B. 2255
requires the least expensive casket to be a full-size casket and displayed
in the same general manner as the other full-sized caskets 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subsection C, Section 4, Article 4582b, V.T.C.S., to
require each funeral establishment to have a physical plant, equipment, and
personnel consisting of the enumerated items, including a display
containing sufficient merchandise to permit reasonable selection, including
five or more adult caskets, two of which must be full-size, with the least
expensive casket being a fullsize casket displayed in the same general
manner as the other full-sized caskets displayed.  Deletes text requiring
the least expensive casket offered for sale by a funeral establishment to
be visibly displayed without concealment.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.