Sec. 20-212. Embalming, care and disposal of bodies restricted. No person,
except a licensed embalmer, shall inject any fluid or substance into any dead human
body, except that a registered student embalmer may, even if not in the presence of a
licensed embalmer, make such injection or perform any other act under his instruction;
and no person, firm or corporation shall enter, engage in, carry on or manage for another
the business of caring for, preserving or disposing of dead human bodies until each
person, firm or corporation so engaged has obtained from the Department of Public
Health and holds a license as provided in this chapter; nor shall any person be employed
to remove a dead human body, except a licensed embalmer, a registered student embalmer, a licensed funeral director, or a person authorized in each instance by the Chief
Medical Examiner, Deputy Medical Examiner or assistant medical examiner incidental
to examining the body of a deceased person, except that once a dead human body has
been prepared in accordance with the Public Health Code and the applicable provisions
of the general statutes, an embalmer or funeral director licensed in this state may authorize an unlicensed employee to transport such body. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit any person licensed as an embalmer or as a funeral director under
the laws of another state from bringing into or removing from this state a dead human
body, provided any and all other laws of this state relative to such body have been
complied with.
(1949 Rev., S. 4530; 1951, S. 2251d; 1969, P.A. 27; 699, S. 28; P.A. 80-484, S. 155, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A.
95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 04-255, S. 24.)
History: 1969 acts specified that removal of body by person authorized by medical examiners be in connection with
examination of body and added exception governing removal of bodies by nonlicensed employees of embalmers or funeral
directors and listed specific titles of medical examiners; P.A. 80-484 replaced board with department of health services as
licensing authority; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-255 changed "nonlicensed
employee" to "unlicensed employee" and "remove" to "transport", and deleted reference to repealed Sec. 7-70.
See Sec. 53-331 prohibiting use of arsenic in embalming.
Sec. 20-213. Embalmer's license. Examination. Fee. Out-of-state licensees. (a)
After a student embalmer has completed a program of education in mortuary science
approved by the board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, has
successfully completed an examination prescribed by the department with the consent
of the board and has completed one year of practical training and experience in full-time employment under the personal supervision and instruction of an embalmer licensed under the provisions of this chapter, such training and experience to be in the
state of Connecticut and of a grade and character satisfactory to the commissioner, and
has embalmed fifty human bodies under the supervision of a licensed embalmer or
embalmers, he shall submit to the department an application and fee of one hundred
sixty-five dollars and then be examined in writing on the Connecticut public health laws
and the regulations of the Department of Public Health pertaining to the activities of an
embalmer, and shall take an examination in practical embalming which shall include
an actual demonstration upon a cadaver. When such registered student embalmer has
satisfactorily passed said examinations, said department shall issue to him a license to
practice embalming. At the expiration of such license, if the holder thereof desires a
renewal, the department shall grant it pursuant to section 20-222a except for cause.
(b) Examinations for registration as a student embalmer and for an embalmer's
license shall be administered to applicants by the Department of Public Health, under
the supervision of the board, semiannually and at such other times as may be determined
by the department.
(c) Any person licensed as an embalmer in another state whose requirements for
licensure in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state
and who is a currently practicing competent practitioner shall be eligible for licensure
without examination upon application and payment of a fee of one hundred sixty-five
dollars, provided all such applicants shall be required to pass an examination, given in
writing, on the Connecticut public health laws and the regulations of the Department
of Public Health pertaining to the activities of an embalmer. No license shall be issued
under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is
pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4530; 1951, S. 2252d; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 61; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 1; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 70; 1972, P.A.
127, S. 43; 223, S. 11; P.A. 75-108; P.A. 76-113, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 434, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 86, 176; P.A. 81-471, S.
48, 71; P.A. 88-163, S. 1; P.A. 89-251, S. 109, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act increased fee in Subsec. (2) from ten to fifteen dollars and quadrupled fee in Subsec. (3); 1967 act
deleted requirement of satisfactory completion of four-year course in a secondary school or equivalent prior to beginning
embalming school study and substituted satisfactory completion of course of study in a "postsecondary school" for embalmers, in Subsec. (1)(d), substituted in Subsec. (3) "department of health" for "board" re granting renewal of license "pursuant
to section 20-222a" and deleted provisions re fee and procedure now covered by said section and added full name of board
to Subsec. (4); 1971 act increased license fee in Subsec. (3) from forty to one hundred dollars; 1972 acts changed minimum
age for embalmer from twenty-one to eighteen, reflecting changed age of majority and reduced licensing fee in Subsec.
(3) from one hundred to forty dollars; P.A. 75-108 replaced list of specific subjects covered in examination with "such
subjects as may be required by the conference of funeral service examining boards" in Subsec. (2); P.A. 76-113 deleted
requirement that applicants be U.S. citizens and of good moral character; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with
department of health services, required consent of health services commissioner for examination subjects and prescribed
oral examination and transferred administering of examinations from board to health services department retaining board
in supervisory role, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted former Subsecs. (1) and (2) setting forth qualifications
required of student embalmer and re examination procedure for registration as student embalmer, redesignated former
Subsecs. (3) and (4) as (a) and (b), transferred powers formerly held by board to department of health services, deleted
requirement that applicant for license be at least eighteen and deleted reference to July first as expiration date for license;
P.A. 81-471 added requirement that student embalmers complete a program of education in mortuary science and reduced
the number of bodies required to be embalmed by student embalmers prior to examination from one hundred to fifty; P.A.
88-163 reduced the practical training requirement from two years to one year, provided for a one-hundred-fifty-dollar
application fee and added Subsec. (c) concerning licensing of persons licensed in another state; P.A. 89-251 increased the
application fees from one hundred fifty dollars to one hundred sixty-five dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and
commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-214. Examination questions. Examinations for the purpose of examining
applicants for licenses as embalmers shall be upon the questions prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health with the advice and consent of the board.
(1949 Rev., S. 4531; 1951, S. 2253d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 29; P.A. 77-614, S. 435, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 87,
176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1965 act substituted reference to Sec. 4-40a for obsolete reference to repealed section; P.A. 77-614 deleted
references to examiner appointed by health department (succeeded by health services department) to act with board in
conducting examinations and specified that questions to be prescribed by board with consent of health services commissioner rather than by department choosing from list of questions submitted by board, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 specified that questions are prescribed by health services commissioner, rather than board, but retained board in
advisory capacity; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-215. Affidavit re preparation or embalming of body. No licensed embalmer shall sign an affidavit attesting the preparation or embalming of any body unless
such body has been prepared or embalmed by him, or by a registered student embalmer
under his personal supervision.
(1949 Rev., S. 4535; 1951, S. 2254d; P.A. 04-255, S. 25.)
History: P.A. 04-255 changed "certificate" to "affidavit".
Sec. 20-216. Medical examiner's permission for embalming. No person shall
inject any fluid or substance into the body of any person whose death is subject to
investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner until permission has been
obtained from the Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, an associate medical examiner or an authorized assistant medical examiner.
(1949 Rev., S. 4536; 1951, S. 2255d; 1969, P.A. 699, S. 29; 1971, P.A. 412, S. 11; P.A. 79-47, S. 17.)
History: 1969 act prohibited injections into body of person "whose death is subject to investigation by the office of
medicolegal investigations", replacing reference to person "who has come to a sudden, violent or untimely death or ...
found dead the manner of whose death is not known" and replaced reference to town medical examiner with reference to
chief, deputy or authorized assistant medical examiner; 1971 act deleted reference to permission of county coroner and
replaced office of medicolegal investigations with office of the medical examiner; P.A. 79-47 changed office title to office
of the chief medical examiner, replaced deputy medical examiner with deputy chief medical examiner and added associate
medical examiner.
Sec. 20-217. Funeral director's license. Examination. Fee. Out-of-state licensees. (a) When a student funeral director has completed a program of education approved
by the board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, has successfully
completed an examination prescribed by the department with the consent of the board
and furnishes the department with satisfactory proof that he has completed one year of
practical training and experience in full-time employment under the personal supervision of a licensed embalmer or funeral director, and pays to the department a fee of one
hundred sixty-five dollars, he shall be entitled to be examined upon the Connecticut
state law and regulations pertaining to his professional activities. If found to be qualified
by the Department of Public Health, he shall be licensed as a funeral director. Renewal
licenses shall be issued by the Department of Public Health pursuant to section 20-222a,
unless withheld for cause as herein provided, upon a payment of a fee of one hundred
fifteen dollars.
(b) Examinations for a funeral director's license shall be held semiannually and at
such other times as may be determined by the Department of Public Health.
(c) Any person licensed as a funeral director in another state whose requirements
for licensure in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state
and who is a currently practicing competent practitioner shall be eligible for licensure
without examination upon application and payment of a fee of one hundred sixty-five
dollars, provided all such applicants shall be required to pass an examination, given in
writing, on the Connecticut public health laws and the regulations of the Department
of Public Health pertaining to the activities of a funeral director. No license shall be
issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action
is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
(1949 Rev., S. 4539; 1951, 1953, S. 2256d; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 62; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 2; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 71; 1972,
P.A. 127, S. 44; P.A. 76-113, S. 9; P.A. 77-614, S. 436, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 88, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 49, 71; P.A. 88-163,
S. 2; P.A. 89-251, S. 110, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 28, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act raised fee in Subsec. (2) from ten to fifteen dollars, quadrupled fee in Subsec. (3)(c) and deleted
provision for ten-dollar fee for issuance of license; 1967 act deleted requirement of satisfactory completion of four-year
course in secondary school or equivalent prior to beginning study of funeral directing and substituted satisfactory completion
of "a two-year course of study in a postsecondary school approved by the board" in Subsec. (1)(d), deleted requirement
for oral or written examination in Subsec. (2), revised requirement in Subsec. (3)(b) re satisfactory proof of completion
of "two years of practical training and experience in full-time employment under personal supervision of a licensed embalmer or funeral director," deleted obsolete reference to proof of being a registered student director, substituted "department of health" for "board" re granting renewal of license "pursuant to section 20-222a," added provision for ten-dollar
renewal fee in Subsec. (3)(c) and added full name of board to Subsec. (4); 1971 act raised fee in Subsec. (3)(c) from forty
to one hundred fifty dollars and renewal fee from ten to one hundred dollars; 1972 act changed minimum age of applicant
from twenty-one to eighteen in Subsec. (3), reflecting lowered age of majority; P.A. 76-113 deleted requirement that
applicant be U.S. citizen in Subsec. (1); P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services in
Subsec. (3), effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted Subsecs. (1) and (2) re qualifications and registration procedure
for student funeral director, deleted minimum age requirement and July first as license expiration date in former Subsec.
(3), redesignated as Subsec. (a), similarly redesignated Subsec. (4) as (b) and transferred examination and licensing powers
from board of examiners to department of health services; P.A. 81-471 added requirement that student funeral director
complete a program of education approved by the board with the consent of the commissioner prior to taking examination;
P.A. 88-163 reduced the practical training requirement from two years to one year, reduced fee for license renewal from
one hundred to fifty dollars and added Subsec. (c) concerning licensing of persons licensed in another state; P.A. 89-251
increased the application fees from one hundred fifty dollars to one hundred sixty-five dollars; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6
raised license renewal fee for a funeral director from fifty to one hundred fifteen dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department
and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Under former statute board not justified in requiring embalmer's license for funeral directors. 129 C. 134. Former
statute unconstitutional in part. Id.
Sec. 20-218. Display of licenses. Each license shall be signed by the Commissioner
of Public Health or his designee, and shall specify the name of the person to whom
issued. Each license shall be nonassignable and nontransferable and shall be displayed
by the holder thereof in a conspicuous place in his office or place of business.
(1949 Rev., S. 4533; 1951, S. 2257d; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 89, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A.
95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 80-484 required that license be signed by health services commissioner or his designee reflecting transfer of licensing
power from board and deleted obsolete provision requiring that board notify department of name and address of persons
it grants licenses; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-219. Renewal. Section 20-219 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4543; 1951, S. 2258d; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 63; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 8.)
See Sec. 20-222a.
Sec. 20-219a. Continuing education requirements. (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Licensee" means a funeral director or embalmer licensed pursuant to this chapter;
and (2) "department" means the Department of Public Health; and (3) "registration
period" means the twelve-month period that commences on the date of renewal of the
licensee's license, as provided in section 19a-88, and is current and valid.
(b) Each licensee shall complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education
during each registration period. The continuing education shall be in areas related to
the licensee's practice, including, but not limited to, bereavement care, business management and administration, religious customs and traditions related to funerals, cremation
services, cemetery services, natural sciences, preneed services, restorative arts and embalming, federal and state laws governing funeral services, counseling, funeral service
merchandising, sanitation and infection control, organ donation or hospice care. The
continuing education shall consist of courses offered or approved by the Academy of
Professional Funeral Service Practice, educational offerings sponsored by a hospital
or other licensed health care institution or courses offered by a regionally accredited
institution of higher education.
(c) Each licensee shall obtain a certificate of completion from the provider of the
continuing education for all continuing education hours that are successfully completed
and shall retain such certificate for a minimum of three years following the license
renewal date for which the activity satisfies the continuing education requirement. Upon
request by the department, the licensee shall submit the certificate to the department.
(d) A licensee who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject
to disciplinary action pursuant to section 20-227.
(e) The continuing education requirements shall be waived for licensees applying
for license renewal for the first time. The department may, for a licensee who has a
medical disability or illness, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements
for a specific period of time or may grant the licensee an extension of time in which to
fulfill the requirements.
(P.A. 03-118, S. 1.)
Sec. 20-220. Requirements for engaging in funeral directing business. Except
as provided in section 20-223, no person shall carry on or engage in the business of
funeral directing, or hold himself out to the public as a funeral director, unless he is
licensed by the Department of Public Health as a funeral director and unless he owns
his business of funeral directing or is an employee or member of a firm, partnership or
corporation operating a funeral directing business at an established place of business,
for which place of business there has been issued a certificate of inspection by said
department as provided in section 20-222.
(1949 Rev., S. 4545; 1951, S. 2259d; P.A. 80-484, S. 90, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced "board", i.e. board of examiners of embalmers and funeral directors, with references to
department of health services; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and
addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and
Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-221. Employment of embalmers. Each holder of a funeral director's license issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, who becomes an owner
or part owner of an establishment, shall comply with the requirements and provisions
of section 20-222 and, in addition thereto, shall employ a full-time licensed embalmer.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to an embalmer licensed by the Department
of Public Health who is a member of the firm, partnership or corporation operating a
funeral service business, provided the funeral service business shall comply with all the
provisions of section 20-222.
(1949 Rev., S. 4546; 1951, S. 2260d; P.A. 80-484, S. 91, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced "board", i.e. board of examiners of embalmers and funeral directors, with "department
of health services"; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-222. Inspection certificate. Hearing; appeal. (a) No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall enter into, engage in, or carry on a funeral service business
unless an inspection certificate has been issued by the department for each place of
business. Any person, firm, partnership or corporation desiring to engage in the funeral
service business shall submit, in writing, to the department an application upon blanks
furnished by the department for an inspection certificate for a funeral service business
for each place of business, and each such application shall be accompanied by a fee
of three hundred dollars and shall identify the manager. Each holder of an inspection
certificate shall, annually, on or before July first, submit in writing to the Department
of Public Health an application for renewal of such certificate together with a fee of one
hundred fifty dollars. If the Department of Public Health issues to such applicant such
an inspection certificate, the same shall be valid until July first next following, unless
revoked or suspended.
(b) Upon receipt of an application for an inspection certificate or renewal thereof,
the Department of Public Health shall make an inspection of each building or part thereof
wherein a funeral service business is conducted or is intended to be conducted, and
satisfactory proof shall be furnished the Department of Public Health that the building
or part thereof, in which it is intended to conduct the funeral service business, contains an
adequate sanitary preparation room equipped with tile, cement or composition flooring,
necessary ventilation, sink, and hot and cold running water, sewage facilities, and such
instruments and supplies for the preparing or embalming of dead human bodies for
burial, transportation or other disposition as the Commissioner of Public Health, with
advice and assistance from the board, deems necessary and suitable for the conduct and
maintenance of such business.
(c) Any person, firm, partnership or corporation desiring to change its place of
business shall notify the Department of Public Health thirty days in advance of such
change, and a fee of twenty-five dollars shall accompany the application for the inspection certificate of the new premises. Any person, firm, partnership or corporation desiring to change its manager shall notify the Department of Public Health thirty days in
advance of such change, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health.
(d) The building or part thereof in which is conducted or intended to be conducted
any funeral service business shall be open at all times for inspection by the board or the
Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health may make inspections
whenever it deems advisable.
(e) If, upon inspection by the Department of Public Health, it is found that such
building, equipment or instruments are in such an unsanitary condition as to be detrimental to public health, the board shall give to the applicant or operator of the funeral service
business notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in the regulations adopted by
the Commissioner of Public Health. At any such hearing, the Commissioner of Public
Health or his designee shall be considered a member of the board and entitled to a vote.
The board, or the Department of Public Health or his designee acting upon the board's
finding or determination, may, after such hearing, revoke or refuse to issue or renew
any such certificate upon cause found after hearing. Any person aggrieved by the finding
of said board or action taken by the Department of Public Health may appeal therefrom
in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.
(f) Any of the inspections provided for in this section may be made by a person
designated by the Department of Public Health or by a representative of the Commissioner of Public Health.
(1949 Rev., S. 4537; 1951, S. 2261d; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 64; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 3; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 72; P.A. 76-436, S. 428, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 74, 125; 77-614, S. 437, 610; P.A. 89-251, S. 111, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-271, S. 15, 40.)
History: 1959 act quintupled application fee, raised renewal fee for same and fee when changing place of business from
ten to twenty-five dollars and deleted provision in Subsec. (f) that inspector receive such remuneration as board votes;
1967 act substituted "the department of health" for "board" in Subsecs. (1) and (3) re application for renewal of certificate
or for change of place of business, added "or the department of health as the case may be" in Subsec. (2) and "or the
department of health" in Subsecs. (4), (5) and (6), added to third sentence in Subsec. (5) "or the department of health acting
upon the board's finding or determination" and provided for appeal from "action taken by the department of health" in the
same subsection; 1971 act raised application fee from fifty to one hundred dollars and renewal fee from five to fifty dollars
in Subsec. (1); P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts
in Subsec. (5), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced provisions requiring appeal within thirty days with requirement
that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health
services, deleted references to board in Subsecs. (2), (4) and (6) re applications and inspections, made commissioner of
health services responsible for sanitary standards, rather than board, in Subsec. (2), retaining board in advisory role, replaced
ten days' notice requirement in Subsec. (5) with requirement that notice and opportunity for hearing to be as provided in
commissioner's regulations, replaced all previous appeal provisions with statement that appeals are to be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183 and, in Subsec. (6) removed requirement that inspectors hold a license as an embalmer, effective
January 1, 1979; P.A. 89-251 increased the application fee from one hundred dollars to three hundred dollars and increased
the renewal fee from fifty dollars to one hundred fifty dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of
health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A.
95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-271 replaced numeric Subsec. indicators with alphabetic indicators,
changed references from "board" to "department" and made technical changes, amended Subsec. (a) by deleting prohibition
against managing for another, by deleting the requirement that the principals have an embalmer's or funeral director's
license and by requiring an application to identify the manager and amended Subsec. (c) by requiring thirty days' advance
notice of a change of place of business, effective July 6, 1995.
Sec. 20-222a. Renewal of licenses and inspection certificates. Each embalmer's
license, funeral director's license and inspection certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be renewed, except for cause, by the Department of Public
Health upon the payment to said Department of Public Health by each applicant for
license renewal of the sum of fifty-five dollars in the case of an embalmer, one hundred
fifteen dollars in the case of a funeral director and for inspection certificate renewal the
sum of one hundred fifty dollars for each certificate to be renewed. Fees for renewal of
inspection certificates shall be given to the Department of Public Health on or before
July first in each year and the renewal of inspection certificates shall begin on July first
of each year and shall be valid for one calendar year. Licenses shall be renewed in
accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88.
(1967, P.A. 835, S. 7; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 73; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 12; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 92,
176; P.A. 81-471, S. 50, 71; P.A. 88-163, S. 3; P.A. 89-251, S. 112, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 29, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1971 act increased fee for license renewal from ten to one hundred dollars and for inspection certificate renewal
from twenty-five to fifty dollars; 1972 act made hundred-dollar license renewal fee applicable to funeral directors only
and set renewal fee for embalmers at ten dollars; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health
services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 specified that renewals to be governed by provisions of Sec. 19-45 as of
January 1, 1981, and deleted provisions re additional fees levied or ultimate revocation of license or inspection certificate
for failure to renew in timely fashion; P.A. 81-471 deleted references to licenses; P.A. 88-163 changed renewal fees from
ten dollars to fifty dollars for embalmers and from one hundred dollars to fifty dollars for funeral directors; P.A. 89-251
increased the renewal fee for embalmers from fifty dollars to fifty-five dollars, increased the renewal fee for funeral directors
from fifty dollars to fifty-five dollars and increased the renewal fee for an inspection certificate from fifty dollars to one
hundred fifty dollars; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised license renewal fee for a funeral director from fifty-five to one hundred
fifteen dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-222b. Disclosure of ownership information. (a) Each person, firm or
corporation that carries on or engages in a funeral service business, as defined in section
20-207, shall display, on a sign located immediately inside of such funeral service business, in a place proximate to the display of the license and certificate required by this
chapter and in a manner visible to the public, the following ownership information:
(1) The name of every licensed funeral director, as defined in section 20-207, who
holds an ownership interest of ten per cent or more in the corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, limited partnership or other business entity that operates such
funeral service business; and
(2) The name of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or limited
partnership that holds an ownership interest of ten per cent or more in such funeral
service business.
(b) Each person, firm or corporation that carries on or engages in such funeral service business shall include, on any contract for the sale of funeral services or merchandise, the name, business address and business telephone number of any corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, or limited partnership that holds an ownership
interest of ten per cent or more in such funeral service business.
(P.A. 98-174.)
Sec. 20-223. Embalmers may act as funeral directors. Any embalmer's license
issued by the Department of Public Health shall entitle the holder thereof to act as a
funeral director or embalmer, provided owners of establishments operating a funeral
service business shall comply with the provisions of section 20-222.
(1949 Rev., S. 4540; 1951, S. 2262d; P.A. 80-484, S. 93, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced board of examiners with department of health services as licensing authority; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and
Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Not retrospective in operation. 129 C. 132. Former statute unconstitutional in part. Id., 134.
Sec. 20-224. Employment of assistants and students. Apprentice registration.
(a) The provisions of sections 20-217, 20-220 and 20-227 shall not prohibit the employment of assistants or of student embalmers and student funeral directors as provided in
this chapter, provided a licensed funeral service business may employ no more than
two student embalmers at any one time, and any person, firm, corporation or other
organization engaged in the business of funeral directing may employ no more than one
student funeral director at any one time, without the approval of the Board of Examiners
of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
(b) Student embalmers and student funeral directors shall register as apprentices
with the Department of Public Health, in the manner prescribed by the commissioner
in regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-211, for purposes of completing practical
training and experience pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(1949 Rev., S. 4541; 1951, S. 2263d; P.A. 73-80; P.A. 80-484, S. 162, 176; P.A. 92-59, S. 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39;
P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 73-80 made proviso re employment of student embalmers applicable to licensed "funeral service business"
rather than to "embalmer" and required approval of board of examiners before employment of more students than allowed
is undertaken; P.A. 80-484 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 20-225 and deleted word "registered" modifying student
embalmers; P.A. 92-59 made the existing section Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) concerning registration; P.A. 93-381
replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and
Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-225. Registration of students. Section 20-225 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4542; 1951, S. 2264d; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 65; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 74; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 13; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
Sec. 20-226. Lists of licensees and students to be filed with town clerks. The
Department of Public Health shall, on or before the tenth day of September in each year,
or as soon thereafter as possible, forward to the town clerk or registrar of vital statistics
of each town four printed lists duly verified, one containing the names of all licensed
funeral directors, one the names of all licensed embalmers, one the names of all student
embalmers and one the names of all student funeral directors, and such lists shall be
kept on file in the office to which they have been transmitted. The Department of Public
Health shall issue to each person granted a license or registration subsequent to the
making of such list a card stating that the holder thereof has received a license or registration, as the case may be. The holders of such cards shall have the same rights as those
whose names appear in the lists on file in the office of the town clerk.
(1949 Rev., S. 4534; 1951, S. 2265d; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 163, 176; P.A.
93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1967 act substituted "the department of health" for "board" and deleted obsolete reference to state department
of health receiving lists; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January
1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 deleted word "registered" modifying student embalmers; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health
services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner
and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective
July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-227. Disciplinary action; grounds; appeals. The Department of Public
Health may refuse to grant a license or inspection certificate or the board may take any
of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 against a licensee, registrant or holder of an
inspection certificate if it finds the existence of any of the following grounds: (1) The
practice of any fraud or deceit in obtaining or attempting to obtain a license, registration
or inspection certificate; (2) violation of the statutes or regulations of said department
relative to the business of embalming or funeral directing in this state; (3) the conviction
of a crime in the course of professional activities; (4) incompetency, negligence or
misconduct in the carrying on of such business or profession; (5) violation of or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter or the rules established hereunder; (6) loaning,
borrowing or using a license or inspection certificate of another, or knowingly aiding
or abetting in any way the granting of an improper license or inspection certificate; (7)
aiding or abetting the practice of embalming or funeral directing by an unlicensed person;
(8) physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of motor skill, including but
not limited to, deterioration through the aging process; or (9) abuse or excessive use of
drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals. The Commissioner of Public Health
may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if
his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said
commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to
enforce such order of any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17. The Department of
Public Health shall not refuse to renew any license or inspection certificate nor shall
the board suspend any such license, registration or inspection certificate until the holder
thereof has been given notice and opportunity for hearing in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health. Any person aggrieved by the action
of said department in refusing to renew a license or inspection certificate or by the action
of said board in suspending or revoking any license, registration or inspection certificate
under the provisions of this chapter or action taken under section 19a-17 may appeal
therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. No person whose license,
registration or inspection certificate is suspended or revoked shall, during such suspension or revocation, enter or engage, either personally or through any corporation, partnership or other organization, or through any agent, in any of the activities which such
license, registration or inspection certificate entitled him to engage in; nor shall any such
person receive any money or any other valuable consideration on account of engaging in
any of such activities. No person shall pay, promise, offer or give to anyone whose
license, registration or inspection certificate is suspended or revoked any money or
other valuable consideration for engaging in any of the activities which such license,
registration or inspection certificate entitled him to engage in.
(1949 Rev., S. 4544; 1951, S. 2266d; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 5; P.A. 76-436, S. 429, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 75, 125; 77-614,
S. 438, 587, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 46, 127; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-484, S. 94, 176; P.A. 88-163, S. 4; 88-230, S. 1, 12;
P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1967 act added provision in Subdiv. (i) that "the department of health shall not refuse to renew any license"
and deleted obsolete reference to refusal by board to renew license, added to second sentence of the same Subdivs. "the
department of health in refusing to renew license or by the action of" the board and deleted obsolete provision with reference
to board's action to "renew" license or registration; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court,
effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced reference to petitions to court with reference to appeals in accordance with
Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced department of health with department of health services, amended
Subdiv. (f) to refer to rules established under chapter rather than to rules of board, rephrased notice and hearing provision
with provision for notice and hearing adopted by health services commissioner and deleted remaining appeal provisions,
retaining reference to Sec. 4-183, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 reiterated changes to appeal provisions; P.A. 80-484 transferred power of board to refuse license to health services department, expanded board's power to suspend or
revoke license to include other disciplinary actions under Sec. 19-4s, revised grounds for disciplinary action, replacing
conviction of crime of moral turpitude with crime in course of professional activities, deleting misleading advertising as
ground, deleting solicitation of patronage by paying commissions or gratuities as ground and adding grounds re physical
or mental illness, etc. and re drug abuse, etc. and added provision re physical or mental examinations and re petitions to
court for enforcement of orders or actions; P.A. 88-163 added references to inspection certificates; P.A. 88-230 replaced
"judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98
changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the
effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced
department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1,
1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services
with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Cited. 41 CS 211, 215.
Subdiv. (4):
Cited. 41 CS 211, 212, 215.
Sec. 20-228. Reinstatement of registration or license of veteran. Any person
who has served in the armed forces of the United States and who was a holder in good
standing of a registration or a license as provided in this chapter at the date of his entry
into the armed forces may, upon his separation from active duty in said armed forces
or within one year thereafter, make application to the Department of Public Health for
the reinstatement of the registration or license which he held at the time of his entry into
the service as aforesaid. Said department shall issue such registration or license to such
an applicant without examination, if it approves of his professional qualifications.
(1951, S. 2272d; 1967, P.A. 835, S. 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 95, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A.
95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1967 act substituted "department of health" for "board"; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with
department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 replaced reference to "moral" qualifications with
reference to "professional" qualifications; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 19a-88b re renewal of registration or license for persons serving in U.S. armed forces.
See Sec. 27-103 for definition of "armed forces".
Sec. 20-229. Reciprocal agreements. The Commissioner of Public Health may
enter into an agreement with the corresponding licensing authority of any other state
competent to enter into such agreement, which agreement shall be in substantially the
following form:
"We, the undersigned representatives of the various states, by and through their respective licensing authorities, hereby jointly agree that a person duly registered and
licensed as a funeral director or embalmer in either one of the several states may go into
the other state for the purpose of handling, embalming, transporting and burying dead
human bodies and directing funerals as though he were registered under the laws of that
state, except that he shall not maintain an establishment, advertise, have any agent or
agency, or otherwise hold himself out as a funeral director or embalmer other than in
his native state.
It is further agreed that the licensing authority of the state in which the funeral director
or embalmer is licensed will assume the responsibility for instituting disciplinary action
against any licensed funeral directors or embalmers who may be guilty of unprofessional
conduct in the practice of their business in the other state, when such is called to their
attention by the licensing authority of that state."
Any such agreement may be rescinded by said commissioner at any time.
(1957, P.A. 153; P.A. 80-484, S. 96, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced board with health services commissioner as authority for entering agreements with
licensing authorities of other states; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-230. Business not to be conducted in cemetery or on tax-exempt property. No person, firm, association or corporation shall engage in the business of funeral
directing, except in continuing the supervision of a funeral, or in the profession of embalming or the sale of funeral merchandise in or on any cemetery or tax-exempt property.
(1949 Rev., S. 4548; 1951, S. 2267d.)
Since statute was enacted prior to enactment of cemetery's charter it has been impliedly repealed to the extent that it
prohibits the sale and conveyance of double depth burial crypts found to be authorized by the charter. 180 C. 680, 682,
685, 691.
Sec. 20-230a. Price list of available services and merchandise. Purchaser's
rights. No licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer shall offer to sell services to
arrange for or conduct funerals or offer to sell any merchandise used in connection with
a funeral without first providing the purchaser of such services or merchandise with an
itemized price list of all available services and merchandise and every such purchaser
shall also be informed by such funeral director or embalmer, prior to entering into any
sales agreement, of the right to select only such services or merchandise which the
purchaser so desires.
(P.A. 77-219, S. 1.)
Sec. 20-230b. Statement of prices for requested services and merchandise.
Method of payment. Cash advanced. No person engaged in the business of funeral
directing and no licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer shall fail to provide the
person making funeral arrangements or arranging for disposition of a dead human body,
at the time funeral arrangements are completed and prior to the time of rendering service
or providing merchandise, a written statement indicating to the extent then known: (1)
The price of the service that the person has selected and what is included therein; (2)
the price of each supplemental item of service or merchandise requested; (3) the amount
involved for each of the items for which the funeral firm will advance money as an
accommodation to the family of the deceased; and (4) the methods of payment. No
person engaged in the business of funeral directing and no licensed funeral director or
licensed embalmer shall bill or cause to be billed any item that is referred to as a "cash
advanced" item unless the net amount paid for such item by the funeral firm is the same
as is billed by the funeral firm.
(P.A. 77-219, S. 2.)
Sec. 20-231. Misleading statement by license applicant; penalty. (a) No applicant for an embalmer's license or a funeral director's license shall present to the Department of Public Health any written statement, signed either by himself or any other
person, which is misleading or untrue.
(b) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than one hundred
dollars for each offense.
(1949 Rev., S. 4549; 1951, S. 2268d; P.A. 80-484, S. 97, 176; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 80-484 replaced board of examiners with department of health services in Subsec. (a), deleted Subsecs.
(b) to (e) containing prohibitions against solicitations of employment and advertising and redesignated former Subsec. (f)
as Subsec. (b); P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-232. Disposition of fees and fines. All fees collected and fines paid under
the provisions of this chapter shall be paid to the secretary of said board, and by him
accounted for and paid over to the State Treasurer.
(1949 Rev., S. 4550; 1951, June, 1955, S. 2269d.)
Sec. 20-233. Penalty. Any person, firm, corporation or partnership, or his or its
agent or representative, who violates any provision of section 20-217, 20-220, 20-221,
20-224, 20-227, 20-230a or 20-230b shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars
for the first offense, and for the second offense not less than one hundred dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars, and his license shall be suspended for such period, not
less than six months, as the board determines. Any person who violates any provision
of this chapter, for the violation of which no other penalty has been provided, shall be
fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense. No provision of this chapter shall apply to officials of public institutions or to
federal officers in the discharge of their duty. No provision of this chapter shall be
construed to prohibit persons enrolled in approved programs of education in mortuary
science from participating in practical activities for academic credit in such programs,
provided such activities are performed under the direct and immediate supervision of
a faculty member of such program who is licensed pursuant to this chapter and acting
within the scope of such license.
(1949 Rev., S. 4551; 1951, S. 2271d; P.A. 77-219, S. 3; P.A. 80-484, S. 164, 176; P.A. 92-59, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 77-219 made violation of Secs. 20-230a and 20-230b punishable as provided; P.A. 80-484 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 20-225; P.A. 92-59 added language concerning participation in practical activities by mortuary
science students.