Florida Senate - 2026 SB 598
By Senator Truenow
13-00551-26 2026598__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to funeral, cemetery, and consumer
3 services; amending s. 497.164, F.S.; prohibiting a
4 licensee of funeral or cemetery services from entering
5 into certain contracts, agreements, or arrangements;
6 amending s. 497.169, F.S.; limiting the total
7 liability for damages for certain civil actions
8 against a person or company licensed under ch. 497,
9 F.S.; amending s. 497.263, F.S.; revising the
10 procedures for applicants seeking a cemetery license;
11 amending s. 497.270, F.S.; conforming a provision to
12 changes made by the act; amending s. 497.369, F.S.;
13 revising the requirements for an applicant seeking
14 licensure by endorsement to be an embalmer; amending
15 s. 497.374, F.S.; revising the requirements for an
16 applicant seeking licensure by endorsement to be a
17 funeral director; amending s. 497.375, F.S.; deleting
18 an exception to the educational requirements for an
19 applicant seeking licensure to be a funeral director;
20 amending s. 497.376, F.S.; revising the requirements
21 for an applicant seeking a license by endorsement as a
22 combination funeral director and embalmer; amending s.
23 497.377, F.S.; revising the educational requirements
24 for licensure to be a combination funeral director and
25 embalmer intern; amending s. 497.386, F.S.;
26 authorizing a licensee or a licensed facility to
27 dispose of human remains in a specified manner if the
28 legally authorized person of the decedent fails,
29 neglects, or refuses to direct the disposition;
30 providing that the licensee or licensed facility is
31 not liable for any action arising out of such
32 disposal; amending s. 497.459, F.S.; revising the
33 method in which a preneed licensee must send written
34 notice to cancel a preneed contract; authorizing the
35 Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services to
36 adopt rules; amending s. 497.602, F.S.; prohibiting
37 the Department of Financial Services from accepting
38 applications and issuing licenses for direct disposers
39 after a specified date; authorizing a person licensed
40 before the specified date to continue to practice as a
41 direct disposer by renewing his or her license;
42 deleting the application procedures to become a
43 licensed direct disposer; deleting responsibilities of
44 the licensing authority issuing a direct disposer
45 license; amending s. 497.604, F.S.; revising an
46 exception to the prohibition against a person opening
47 or maintaining an establishment in which he or she
48 holds himself or herself out as a direct disposer;
49 prohibiting the department from accepting applications
50 and issuing licenses for direct disposal
51 establishments after a specified date; authorizing a
52 person licensed before the specified date to continue
53 to practice by renewing his or her license; deleting
54 application requirements; requiring the location of
55 direct disposition to be used solely for the business
56 of the establishment; conforming provisions to changes
57 made by the act; making technical changes; amending s.
58 497.607, F.S.; revising the timeframe after which a
59 funeral or direct disposal establishment may dispose
60 of cremated remains if the remains have not been
61 claimed; amending s. 627.404, F.S.; revising the
62 exceptions to the prohibition relating to personal
63 insurance; reenacting s. 497.260(5), F.S., relating to
64 cemeteries, exemptions, investigations, and mediation,
65 to incorporate the amendment made to s. 497.263, F.S.,
66 in a reference thereto; providing an effective date.
67
68 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
69
70 Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 497.164,
71 Florida Statutes, to read:
72 497.164 Solicitation of goods or services.—
73 (6) A licensee under this chapter may not enter into a
74 contract, agreement, or other arrangement in which that licensee
75 or any affiliated licensee becomes the exclusive or sole
76 provider of funeral, cremation, refrigeration, or removal
77 services for any entity that provides medical, palliative, or
78 other end-of-life care and services to the general public.
79 Section 2. Present subsections (2) and (3) of section
80 497.169, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (3)
81 and (4), respectively, a new subsection (2) is added to that
82 section, and subsection (1) of that section is amended, to read:
83 497.169 Private actions; actions on behalf of consumers;
84 attorney’s fee.—
85 (1) Notwithstanding s. 497.157, the Attorney General, or
86 the department on behalf of Florida residents of this state, or
87 any person may bring a civil action against a person or company
88 violating the provisions of this chapter in the appropriate
89 court of the county in which the alleged violator resides or has
90 her or his or its principal place of business or in the county
91 wherein the alleged violation occurred. Upon adverse
92 adjudication, the defendant is shall be liable for actual
93 damages caused by such violation. The court may, as provided by
94 common law, award punitive damages and may provide such
95 equitable relief as it deems proper or necessary, including
96 enjoining the defendant from further violations of this chapter.
97 (2) The total liability for damages in any civil action for
98 negligence brought against a person or company licensed pursuant
99 to this section may not exceed $200,000.
100 Section 3. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
101 497.263, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
102 497.263 Cemetery companies; license required; licensure
103 requirements and procedures.—
104 (2) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.—
105 (g) The proposed cemetery must contain at least 30
106 contiguous acres. Such acreage must be contiguous, except that
107 parcels of land divided solely by a public right-of-way or
108 public road may be considered contiguous, provided the parcels
109 are in close geographic proximity and form a unified cemetery
110 property. The application must state the exact number of acres
111 in the proposed cemetery and must identify any public rights-of
112 way or roads dividing the parcels. Parcels located in separate
113 or distant geographic areas, even if along the same roadway or
114 corridor, do not satisfy the contiguity requirement of this
115 paragraph The application shall state the exact number of acres
116 in the proposed cemetery.
117 Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 497.270, Florida
118 Statutes, is amended to read:
119 497.270 Minimum acreage; sale or disposition of cemetery
120 lands.—
121 (2) Any lands owned by a licensee and dedicated for use by
122 it as a cemetery, which meet the criteria set forth in s.
123 497.263(2)(g) are in excess of a minimum of 30 contiguous acres,
124 may be sold, conveyed, or disposed of by the licensee, after
125 obtaining written approval pursuant to procedures and using
126 utilizing forms specified by rule and consistent with subsection
127 (3), for use by the new owner for other purposes than as a
128 cemetery. All of the human remains which have been previously
129 interred therein must shall first be have been removed from the
130 lands proposed to be sold, conveyed, or disposed of; however,
131 the provisions of ss. 497.152(8)(e) and 497.384 must be complied
132 with before prior to any disinterment of human remains. Any and
133 All titles, interests, or burial rights which may have been sold
134 or contracted to be sold in lands which are the subject of the
135 sale must shall be conveyed to and revested in the licensee
136 before prior to consummation of any such sale, conveyance, or
137 disposition.
138 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 497.369, Florida
139 Statutes, is amended to read:
140 497.369 Embalmers; licensure as an embalmer by endorsement;
141 licensure of a temporary embalmer.—
142 (4) Each applicant for licensure by endorsement shall must
143 pass the examination on local, state, and federal laws and rules
144 relating to the disposition of dead human bodies which is
145 required under s. 497.368 and which shall be given by the
146 licensing authority. Licensure by endorsement under subparagraph
147 (1)(b)1. does not require any educational or testing
148 requirements other than those required in this subsection.
149 Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 497.374, Florida
150 Statutes, is amended to read:
151 497.374 Funeral directing; licensure as a funeral director
152 by endorsement; licensure of a temporary funeral director.—
153 (4) Each applicant for licensure by endorsement shall must
154 pass the examination on local, state, and federal laws and rules
155 relating to the disposition of dead human bodies which is
156 required under s. 497.373 and which shall be given by the
157 licensing authority. Licensure by endorsement under subparagraph
158 (1)(b)1. does not require education or testing requirements
159 other than those required in s. 497.373(2)(b).
160 Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
161 497.375, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
162 497.375 Funeral directing; licensure of a funeral director
163 intern.—
164 (1)
165 (b)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2., an applicant
166 must hold the educational credentials required for licensure of
167 a funeral director under s. 497.373(1)(d).
168 2. An applicant who has not completed the educational
169 credentials required for a funeral director license is eligible
170 for licensure as a funeral director intern if the applicant:
171 a. Holds an associate degree or higher in any field from a
172 college or university accredited by a regional accrediting
173 agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
174 b. Is currently enrolled in and attending a licensing
175 authority-approved course of study in mortuary science or
176 funeral service arts required for licensure of a funeral
177 director under s. 497.373(1)(d)2.
178 c. Has taken and received a passing grade in a college
179 credit course in mortuary law or funeral service law and has
180 taken and received a passing grade in a college credit course in
181 ethics.
182 Section 8. Subsection (3) is added to section 497.376,
183 Florida Statutes, to read:
184 497.376 License as funeral director and embalmer
185 permitted.—
186 (3) An applicant for a combination license by endorsement
187 as a funeral director and embalmer under s. 497.373 and s.
188 497.369, respectively, is not required to meet any educational
189 or testing requirements other than those in ss. 497.373(2)(b)
190 and 497.369(4).
191 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
192 497.377, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
193 497.377 Combination funeral director and embalmer
194 internships.—
195 (2)(a) An applicant who has not completed the educational
196 credentials required for a combination license as both funeral
197 director and embalmer is eligible for licensure as a combination
198 funeral director and embalmer intern if the applicant:
199 1. Holds an associate degree or higher in any field from a
200 college or university accredited by a regional accrediting
201 agency recognized by the United States Department of Education;
202 or
203 2. Is currently enrolled in and attending a college
204 accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education
205 (ABFSE) in a course of study in mortuary science accredited by
206 ABFSE.
207 2. Has completed at least 75 percent of the course of study
208 in mortuary science as certified by the college in which the
209 applicant is currently enrolled.
210 3. Has taken and received a passing grade in a college
211 credit course in mortuary law or funeral service law and has
212 taken and received a passing grade in a college credit course in
213 ethics.
214 Section 10. Present subsections (6) and (7) of section
215 497.386, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7)
216 and (8), respectively, and a new subsection (6) is added to that
217 section, to read:
218 497.386 Storage, preservation, and transportation of human
219 remains.—
220 (6) If any human remains have been in the lawful possession
221 of any licensee or licensed facility for 90 days or more, and
222 the legally authorized person of the decedent fails, neglects,
223 or refuses to direct the disposition, the licensee or licensed
224 facility may dispose of the human remains. Any licensee or
225 licensed facility who disposes of human remains pursuant to this
226 subsection may not be held liable for any action arising out of
227 such disposal.
228 Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
229 497.459, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
230 497.459 Cancellation of, or default on, preneed contracts;
231 required notice.—
232 (7) NOTICE TO PURCHASER OR LEGALLY AUTHORIZED PERSON.—
233 (b)1. The notice in paragraph (a) must be provided by
234 certified mail, registered mail, or permitted delivery service,
235 return receipt requested, to the last known e-mail or mailing
236 address of the purchaser or the beneficiary’s legally authorized
237 person, whichever is applicable, as provided to the preneed
238 licensee. If the notice is returned as undeliverable within 30
239 calendar days after the preneed licensee sent the notice, the
240 trustee must shall perform a diligent search and inquiry to
241 obtain a different e-mail or mailing address for the purchaser
242 or the beneficiary’s legally authorized person, whichever is
243 applicable. The board may adopt rules to implement this
244 subparagraph For purposes of this subparagraph, any address
245 known and used by the purchaser or the beneficiary’s legally
246 authorized person, whichever is applicable, for sending regular
247 mailings or other communications from the purchaser or the
248 beneficiary’s legally authorized person, whichever is
249 applicable, to the preneed licensee or any address produced
250 through a current address service or searchable database shall
251 be included with other addresses produced from the diligent
252 search and inquiry, if any. If the trustee’s diligent search and
253 inquiry produces an address different from the notice address,
254 the trustee shall mail a copy of the notice by certified mail,
255 registered mail, or permitted delivery service, return receipt
256 requested, to any and all addresses produced as a result of the
257 diligent search and inquiry.
258 2. If the purchaser or the beneficiary’s legally authorized
259 person, whichever is applicable, fails to respond to such notice
260 within 120 days after delivery of the last mailed notice under
261 subparagraph 1., the funds held in trust must be distributed in
262 accordance with the terms of the preneed contract, the trust
263 agreement, and any applicable provisions of chapter 717.
264 Section 12. Section 497.602, Florida Statutes, is amended
265 to read:
266 497.602 Direct disposers; barring applications and
267 licenses, license required; licensing procedures and criteria;
268 regulation.—Effective July 1, 2026, applications may not be
269 submitted to, and licenses may not be issued by, the department
270 for direct disposers. However, a person licensed as a direct
271 disposer before July 1, 2026, may continue to practice as such,
272 provided the person continues to renew their direct disposer
273 license pursuant to s. 497.603.
274 (1) LICENSE REQUIRED.—Any person who is not a licensed
275 funeral director and who engages in the practice of direct
276 disposition must be licensed pursuant to this section as a
277 direct disposer.
278 (2) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.—
279 (a) A person seeking licensure as a direct disposer shall
280 apply for such licensure using forms prescribed by rule.
281 (b) The application shall require the name, residence
282 address, date and place of birth, and social security number of
283 the applicant.
284 (c) The application may require information as to the
285 educational and employment history of the applicant.
286 (d) The applicant shall be required to make disclosure of
287 the applicant’s criminal records, if any, as required by s.
288 497.142.
289 (e) The application shall require the applicant to disclose
290 whether the applicant has ever had a license or the authority to
291 practice a profession or occupation refused, suspended, fined,
292 denied, or otherwise acted against or disciplined by the
293 licensing authority of any jurisdiction. A licensing authority’s
294 acceptance of a relinquishment of licensure, stipulation,
295 consent order, or other settlement, offered in response to or in
296 anticipation of the filing of charges against the license, shall
297 be construed as action against the license.
298 (f) The applicant shall submit fingerprints in accordance
299 with s. 497.142.
300 (g) The application shall require the applicant to
301 demonstrate that the applicant does, or will before commencing
302 operations under the license, comply with all requirements of
303 this chapter relating to the licensure applied for.
304 (h) The application shall be signed by the applicant.
305 (i) The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable
306 fee of $300. The licensing authority may from time to time
307 increase the fee by rule but not to exceed more than $500. A
308 member of the United States Armed Forces, such member’s spouse,
309 and a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who separated
310 from service within the 2 years preceding application for
311 licensure are exempt from the application fee. To qualify for
312 the application fee exemption, an applicant must provide a copy
313 of a military identification card, military dependent
314 identification card, military service record, military personnel
315 file, veteran record, discharge paper, or separation document
316 that indicates such member is currently in good standing or such
317 veteran was honorably discharged.
318 (3) ACTION CONCERNING APPLICATIONS.—A duly completed
319 application for licensure under this section, accompanied by the
320 required fees, shall be approved if the licensing authority
321 determines that the following conditions are met:
322 (a) The applicant is a natural person at least 18 years of
323 age and a high school graduate or equivalent.
324 (b) The applicant has taken and received a passing grade in
325 a college credit course in mortuary law and has taken and
326 received a passing grade in a college credit course in ethics.
327 (c) The applicant has completed a course on communicable
328 diseases approved by the licensing authority.
329 (d) The applicant has passed an examination prepared by the
330 department on the local, state, and federal laws and rules
331 relating to the disposition of dead human bodies.
332 (e) The applicant does or will prior to commencing
333 operations under the license comply with all requirements of
334 this chapter relating to the license applied for.
335 (f) The applicant is of good character and has no
336 demonstrated history of lack of trustworthiness or integrity in
337 business or professional matters.
338 (4) ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.—Upon approval of the application
339 by the licensing authority, the license shall be issued. The
340 licensing authority shall recognize military-issued credentials
341 relating to funeral and cemetery services for purposes of
342 licensure as a direct disposer. A member of the United States
343 Armed Forces and a veteran of the United States Armed Forces
344 seeking licensure as a direct disposer under this section shall
345 submit to the licensing authority a certification that the
346 military-issued credential reflects knowledge, training, and
347 experience substantially similar to the requirements of this
348 chapter for licensure as a direct disposer. The licensing
349 authority shall adopt rules specifying forms and procedures to
350 be used by members and veterans of the United States Armed
351 Forces seeking licensure under this section. The licensing
352 authority may conduct investigation and further inquiry of any
353 person regarding any military-issued credential sought to be
354 recognized.
355 Section 13. Section 497.604, Florida Statutes, is amended
356 to read:
357 497.604 Direct disposal establishments, license required;
358 prohibition of applications and licenses licensing procedures
359 and criteria; license renewal; regulation; display of license.—
360 (1) LICENSE REQUIRED.—A direct disposer may shall practice
361 only at a direct disposal establishment which has been licensed
362 under this section and which may be a cinerator facility
363 licensed under s. 497.606. A No person may not open or maintain
364 an establishment at which to engage in or hold herself or
365 himself out as engaging in the practice of direct disposition
366 unless such establishment is licensed pursuant to this section
367 before July 1, 2026.
368 (2) APPLICATION AND LICENSING BARRED PROCEDURES.—Effective
369 July 1, 2026, applications may not be submitted to, and licenses
370 may not be issued by, the department for direct disposal
371 establishments. However, a person licensed as a direct disposal
372 establishment before July 1, 2026, may continue to practice as
373 such, provided the person continues to renew his or her direct
374 disposal establishment license pursuant to subsection (3).
375 (a) A person seeking licensure as a direct disposal
376 establishment shall apply for such licensure using forms
377 prescribed by rule.
378 (b) The application shall require the name, business
379 address, residence address, date and place of birth or
380 incorporation, and business phone number, of the applicant and
381 all principals of the applicant. The application shall require
382 the applicant’s social security number or, if the applicant is
383 an entity, its federal tax identification number.
384 (c) The application shall name the licensed direct disposer
385 or licensed funeral director acting as the direct disposer in
386 charge of the direct disposal establishment.
387 (d) The application may require information as to the
388 applicant’s financial resources.
389 (e) The application may require information as to the
390 educational and employment history of an individual applicant;
391 and as to applicants that are not natural persons, the business
392 and employment history of the applicant and principals of the
393 applicant.
394 (f) The applicant shall be required to make disclosure of
395 the applicant’s criminal records, if any, as required by s.
396 497.142.
397 (g) The application shall require the applicant to disclose
398 whether the applicant or any of the applicant’s principals
399 including its proposed supervising licensee has ever had a
400 license or the authority to practice a profession or occupation
401 refused, suspended, fined, denied, or otherwise acted against or
402 disciplined by the licensing authority of any jurisdiction. A
403 licensing authority’s acceptance of a relinquishment of
404 licensure, stipulation, consent order, or other settlement,
405 offered in response to or in anticipation of the filing of
406 charges against the license, shall be construed as action
407 against the license.
408 (h) The applicant shall submit fingerprints in accordance
409 with s. 497.142.
410 (i) The application shall require the applicant to
411 demonstrate that the applicant does, or will before commencing
412 operations under the license, comply with all requirements of
413 this chapter relating to the licensure applied for.
414 (j) The application shall be signed in accordance with s.
415 497.141(12).
416 (k) The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable
417 fee of $300. The licensing authority may from time to time by
418 rule increase the fee but not to exceed $500.
419 (3) ACTION CONCERNING APPLICATIONS.—A duly completed
420 application for licensure under this section, accompanied by the
421 required fee, shall be approved if the licensing authority
422 determines that the following conditions are met:
423 (a) The applicant is a natural person at least 18 years of
424 age, a corporation, a partnership, or a limited liability
425 company.
426 (b) The applicant does or will prior to commencing
427 operations under the license comply with all requirements of
428 this chapter relating to the license applied for. The applicant
429 shall have passed an inspection prior to issuance of a license
430 under this section, in accordance with rules of the licensing
431 authority.
432 (c) The applicant and the applicant’s principals are of
433 good character and have no demonstrated history of lack of
434 trustworthiness or integrity in business or professional
435 matters.
436 (4) ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.—Upon approval of the application
437 by the licensing authority, the license shall be issued.
438 (5) PROBATIONARY STATUS.—It is the policy of this state to
439 encourage competition for the public benefit in the direct
440 disposal establishment business by, among other means, the entry
441 of new licensees into that business. To facilitate issuance of
442 licenses concerning applications judged by the licensing
443 authority to be borderline as to qualification for licensure,
444 the licensing authority may issue a new license under this
445 section on a probationary basis, subject to conditions specified
446 by the licensing authority on a case-by-case basis, which
447 conditions may impose special monitoring, reporting, and
448 restrictions on operations for up to the first 24 months of
449 licensure, to ensure the licensee’s responsibleness, competency,
450 financial stability, and compliance with this chapter. However,
451 no such probationary license shall be issued unless the
452 licensing authority determines that issuance would not pose an
453 unreasonable risk to the public, and the licensing authority
454 must within 24 months after issuance of the license either
455 remove the probationary status or determine that the licensee is
456 not qualified for licensure under this chapter and institute
457 proceedings for revocation of licensure.
458 (3)(6) RENEWAL OF LICENSE.—A direct disposal establishment
459 license shall be renewed biennially pursuant to schedule, forms,
460 and procedures and upon payment of a fee of $200. The licensing
461 authority may from time to time increase the fee by rule but not
462 to exceed $400.
463 (4)(7) CHANGES SUBSEQUENT TO LICENSURE.—Each licensee under
464 this section shall provide notice as required by rule prior to
465 any change in location or control of the licensee or licensed
466 person in charge of the licensee’s operations. A change in
467 control is subject to approval by the licensing authority and to
468 reasonable conditions imposed by the licensing authority, for
469 the protection of the public to ensure compliance with this
470 chapter. Operations by the licensee at a new location may not
471 commence until an inspection by the licensing authority of the
472 facilities at the new location, pursuant to rules of the
473 licensing authority, has been conducted and passed.
474 (5)(8) SUPERVISION OF FACILITIES.—
475 (a) Each direct disposal establishment shall have a funeral
476 director in charge, subject to s. 497.380(7). However, a
477 licensed direct disposer may continue acting as the direct
478 disposer in charge if, as of September 30, 2010:
479 1. The direct disposal establishment and the licensed
480 direct disposer both have active, valid licenses.
481 2. The licensed direct disposer is currently acting as the
482 direct disposer in charge of the direct disposal establishment.
483 3. The name of the licensed direct disposer was included,
484 as required in paragraph (2)(c), in the direct disposal
485 establishment’s most recent application for issuance or renewal
486 of its license or was included in the establishment’s notice of
487 change provided under subsection (4)(7).
488 (b) The funeral director in charge or direct disposer in
489 charge of a direct disposal establishment must be reasonably
490 available to the public during normal business hours for the
491 establishment. The funeral director in charge or direct disposer
492 in charge of the establishment is responsible for making sure
493 the facility, its operations, and all persons employed in the
494 facility comply with all applicable state and federal laws and
495 rules. A funeral director in charge, with appropriate, active
496 licenses, may serve as a funeral director in charge for not more
497 than a total of two of the following: funeral establishments,
498 centralized embalming facilities, direct disposal
499 establishments, or cinerator facilities, as long as the two
500 locations are not more than 75 miles apart as measured in a
501 straight line.
502 (6)(9) REGULATION OF DIRECT DISPOSAL ESTABLISHMENTS.—
503 (a) There shall be established by rule standards for direct
504 disposal establishments, including, but not limited to,
505 requirements for refrigeration and storage of dead human bodies.
506 (b) The practice of direct disposition must be engaged in
507 at a fixed location of at least 625 contiguous interior
508 contiguous square feet, to be used solely for the business of
509 the establishment, and must maintain or make arrangements for
510 suitable capacity for the refrigeration and storage of dead
511 human bodies handled and stored by the establishment.
512 (c) Each direct disposal establishment is shall at all
513 times be subject to the inspection of all its buildings,
514 grounds, and vehicles used in the conduct of its business, by
515 the department, the Department of Health, and local government
516 inspectors and by their agents. Rules must There shall be
517 adopted to rules which establish such inspection requirements.
518 There shall be adopted by rule of The licensing authority shall
519 charge an annual inspection fee not to exceed $300, payable upon
520 issuance of license and upon each renewal of such license.
521 (d) Each direct disposal establishment must display at the
522 public entrance the name of the establishment and the name of
523 the licensed direct disposer or licensed funeral director acting
524 as the direct disposer in charge of the establishment. A direct
525 disposal establishment must transact its business under the name
526 by which it is licensed.
527 (e) A direct disposal establishment may not be operated at
528 the same location as any other direct disposal establishment or
529 funeral establishment unless such establishments were licensed
530 as colocated establishments on July 1, 2000.
531 (f) A direct disposal establishment shall retain all signed
532 contracts for a period of at least 2 years.
533 (7)(10) DISPLAY OF LICENSE.—
534 (a) A direct disposal disposer establishment and each
535 direct disposer, or funeral director acting as a direct
536 disposer, employed at the establishment must display their
537 current licenses in a conspicuous place within the establishment
538 in such a manner as to make the licenses visible to the public
539 and to facilitate inspection by the licensing authority. If a
540 licensee is simultaneously employed at more than one location,
541 the licensee may display a copy of the license in lieu of the
542 original.
543 (b) Each licensee shall permanently affix a photograph
544 taken of the licensee within the previous 6 years to each
545 displayed license issued to that licensee as a direct disposer
546 or funeral director acting as a direct disposer.
547 Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
548 497.607, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
549 497.607 Cremation; procedure required.—
550 (3)(a) With respect to any person who intends to provide
551 for the cremation of the deceased, if, after 90 a period of 120
552 days from the time of cremation the cremated remains have not
553 been claimed, the funeral or direct disposal establishment may
554 dispose of the cremated remains. Such disposal includes shall
555 include scattering them at sea or placing them in a licensed
556 cemetery scattering garden or pond or in a church columbarium or
557 otherwise disposing of the remains as provided by rule.
558 Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 627.404, Florida
559 Statutes, is amended to read:
560 627.404 Insurable interest; personal insurance.—
561 (5) A contract of insurance upon a person, other than a
562 policy of prepaid funeral contract, group life insurance or
563 group or blanket accident, health, or disability insurance, may
564 not be carried out effectuated unless, on or before the time of
565 entering into such contract, the person insured, having legal
566 capacity to contract, applies for or consents in writing to the
567 contract and its terms, except that any person having an
568 insurable interest in the life of a minor younger than 15 years
569 of age or any person upon whom a minor younger than 15 years of
570 age is dependent for support and maintenance may obtain
571 effectuate a policy of insurance on the minor.
572 Section 16. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
573 made by this act to section 497.263, Florida Statutes, in a
574 reference thereto, subsection (5) of section 497.260, Florida
575 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
576 497.260 Cemeteries; exemption; investigation and
577 mediation.—
578 (5) Any religious-institution-owned cemetery exempt under
579 subsection (1), except those cemeteries qualifying under
580 paragraph (1)(d), which becomes affiliated with a commercial
581 enterprise must meet the requirements of s. 497.263.
582 Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.