KANSAS STATE BOARD OF MORTUARY ARTS
700 SW JACKSON, SUITE #904
TOPEKA, KANSAS 66603-3733
Thursday, January 11, 2007
FORMAT OF MINUTES:
On each motion there appear the names of two board members in a parenthesis. The first named made the motion, and the second named made the second. Ayes and Nays will be recorded at a voter’s request.
Thursday, January 11, 2007:
I. The regularly scheduled meeting of the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts (KSBMA) was called to order by President Barry W. Bedene.
Roll call by Executive Secretary Mack Smith with the following board members in attendance: President Barry W. Bedene, Arma, licensee; Vice President Fred G. Holroyd, Topeka, licensee; Board Member Melissa A. Wangemann, Topeka, consumer; Board Member Charles R. Smith, Overland Park, consumer; and William H. “Bill” Young, Lake Quivira, licensee. The board’s Executive Secretary, Mack Smith and Assistant Attorney General Camille Nohe were in attendance.
The board noted this meeting’s tentative agenda that is displayed on the agency’s website at: http://www.kansas.gov/ksbma/ under the heading of Agency Information and Tentative Board Agenda.
(Young-Wangemann) To approve a final agenda for this meeting as amended. Carried.
(Holroyd-Smith) To adopt the October 12, 2006 regularly scheduled board meeting minutes as amended. Carried. Now that they have been approved by the board, these minutes will be displayed on the board’s website.
The board reviewed results of the written funeral directors’ examination administered on October 12, 2006 noting that 77% (14 of 18 applicants) were successful. No information was provided by examinees on the “Exit” application from this funeral director examination (which allows an opportunity for applicants to express their thoughts on the examination and examination process.)
The board reviewed the ‘List of Licensure Applicants’ scheduled to interview with the board at this meeting, noting the following applicants scheduled to meet with the board: one (1) embalmer, seven (7) embalmer-funeral directors, two (2) funeral directors, and one (1) reciprocal embalmer-funeral director. Three (3) funeral director applicants will be retaking the examination. A total of thirteen (13) applicants are scheduled to be administered the written funeral directors' examination in conjunction with this meeting.
II. The board reviewed individual applications for embalmer and funeral director licensure along with the executive secretary’s summations of the applicant’s apprentice and supervising licensee progress reports. Applicants for licensure will be interviewed later in this meeting. Funeral director applicants will be administered the written funeral directors' examination by Funeral Home/ Crematory Inspector Francis Mills at 1:30 p.m. later this afternoon in the Florentine Room of the Jayhawk Tower.
The board reviewed paperwork for Apprentice Funeral Director Elizabeth J. Robinson involving the additional quarter of funeral directing apprenticeship as was directed at the October 2006 meeting. This apprentice funeral director did not complete the apprenticeship–working one of the three required months. An additional two months must be completed and reviewed/approved by the board before the applicant will be eligible to be administered the written funeral director examination at a future board meeting.
Executive Secretary Smith advised the board that Apprentice Funeral Director Kyle R. Scheideman still must complete 48 hours of apprenticeship (40 in one week and eight in another week) and notify the board accordingly before he is eligible to be administered the written funeral director examination. Notification has not been received by the board, so Mr. Scheideman is not scheduled to be administered the written funeral director examination at this meeting.
All quarterly remaining progress reports of embalmer/funeral director apprentices and supervising licensees were summarized by the executive secretary and discussed by the board with copies of the written reports available for review.
lII. Legal Discussion: Individual Complaints/investigations are listed numerically. The board did not necessarily take action in the order listed below:
Complaint and correspondence information and discussion:
The board reviewed correspondence involving eleven (11) complaints resulting from action taken at the meeting of October 12, 2006.
Information on open complaints:
The Board’s Investigative Committee, which is composed of Board Members
Young and C. Smith with legal assistance provided by Assistant Attorney General (litigation) Steve Phillips and administrative assistance by Executive Secretary Smith, met yesterday: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss all open complaints. Investigative Committee recommendations are included with the individual complaints.
#06-09–No action necessary at this time.
#06-17–An administrative hearing was conducted on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. The final order stated insufficient evidence of any violations. The assistant funeral director was cautioned that without an embalming license, he is prohibited from engaging in the practice of embalming, which includes, but is not limited to, making incisions, inserting arterial cannulas and/or jugular vein tubes, and initiating the flow of chemicals into the arteries.
(Young-Smith) To close the file. Carried.
#06-22–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. Both parties were notified that based on the information provided there were no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The complaint involves a dispute regarding charges for an at-need funeral and misrepresentation on behalf of a licensee. After receiving a letter directed by the Investigative Committee, the licensee agreed not to bill the family for the amount in question.
#06-24–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties were notified that based on the information provided there were no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct and failure of the licensee to provide arranged services.
#06-27–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties were notified that based on the information provided there were no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The assistant funeral director was notified that the situation could have been prevented if he had included the phrase “by the durable power of attorney/durable power of attorney for health care decisions” when signing for the consumer on the Transfer of Assignment/Modification of Funeral Planning Agreement Form as the Signature of Policyowner/Certificate holder. The complaint involved the unauthorized transfer of a prefinanced funeral agreement.
#06-29–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. The licensee has repaired the roof of the funeral home. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct, conditions of the funeral home and concerns relating to embalming.
#06-30–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties have been notified that better communication could have prevented the situation from occurring–with a copy of the letter to the current funeral home owners. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct, providing false information regarding the filing of a death certificate.
#06-31–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties have been notified that based on the information provided there are no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct regarding the signature authorizing a cremation.
#06-33–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties have been notified that based on the information provided there are no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The complaint involved the value of a prefinanced funeral agreement at the time of death and billing concerns involving two different funeral homes.
#06-34–No action necessary at this time.
#06-35–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. All parties have been notified that based on the information provided there are no violations of laws regulated by the KSBMA. The complaint involved misleading information on a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected.
#06-37–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. The licensee has been notified that better communication could have avoided the situation from occurring. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct relating to at-need funeral arrangements.
#06-38–(Holroyd-Young) To close the file. Carried. The embalmer-funeral director relicensure application was denied by the board. The applicant’s Missouri embalmer-funeral director licenses have been revoked. Fees paid by the applicant will be credited toward any future application. The board would look favorably toward Kansas relicensure once his Missouri licenses are reinstated. Relicensure in Missouri would require serving a 12 consecutive month embalmer apprenticeship and passing an oral examination and passing the Missouri Law Examination which is administered on a monthly basis. A funeral director apprenticeship is required only if the applicant does not meet the college educational requirement.
#06-41–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify the licensee that better communication between the licensee-consumer and the licensee’s staff-consumer as well as a better location for taking a nap could have avoided this situation from occurring. Carried. The complaint involves unprofessional services regarding an instate and funeral service.
#06-43–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to close the file. Carried. The complaint involves illegal advertising of an unlicensed crematory. Corrected information has since been provided to and published by the newspaper and journal that originally published the information in question.
#06-44–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify all parties that following review of the investigative report and all submitted documentation, the board found no violations of laws they regulate. Carried. The complaint involves unprofessional conduct involving at-need funeral arrangements.
#06-45–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to close the file. Carried. The complaint involves failure of a funeral home to obtain a next-of-kin cremation authorization in a timely fashion involving an out-of-state death, donation to an out-of-state medical facility and cremation at an out-of-state crematory. The permit has since been obtained, and cremation has been performed.
#06-46–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify all parties that following review of the investigative report and all submitted documentation, the board found no violations of laws they regulate. Carried. The complaint involves a billing dispute–that has since been resolved.
#06-47–No action necessary at this time.
#06-48–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to refer this complaint to the Kansas Attorney General for public censor. If a public censor is not agreed to by the licensee, then the Attorney General will proceed with prosecution providing the consumer does not drop his complaint. Carried. The complaint involves failure to provide price lists and a signed (by the licensee) Statement of Funeral Goods and Services when making at-need funeral arrangements.
#06-49–(Investigative Committee Motion) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify all parties that following review of the investigative report and all submitted documentation, the board found no violations of laws they regulate. Carried. The complaint involves a dispute among family members regarding the responsibility of a funeral bill.
(Bedene-Wangemann) To approve the updated list of Board Actions. Carried. The list of Board Actions contains actions taken by the board against licensees or applicants for licensure. Actions taken since January 1, 2003 are published to the KSBMA web site and remain on the web site unless an individual is deceased.
IV. Legislative Update
• The board reviewed proposed revisions to KSA’s 65-1713 and 65-1751 in bill form completed by the Revisor of Statutes Office. Executive Secretary Smith requested and was granted introduction of this bill by the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee yesterday, Wednesday, January 10, 2007. Once formal introduction occurs, the bill will be assigned a Senate Bill number.
• The board reviewed proposed changes to KAR’s 63-1-1 and 63-5-1. Mr. Smith met with the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules and Regulations (JCARR) on November 20, 2006. The JCARR’s comment will be introduced as an amendment during the public hearing at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon.
• Kansas Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association (KFDA)–Following their meeting of October 3, 2006, the KFDA Board of Directors voted to go forward with legislation in 2007 that would be effective January 1, 2008 to require that all assistant funeral director applicants have a high school diploma or the equivalent thereof and pass a written examination over Kansas laws. Once finalized, copies of this proposed legislation will be provided to the board.
V. Board Interviews with Applicants for Licensure:
Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Jacob A. “Jake” Barnett
(Young-Holroyd) To grant a funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $28.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Barnett completed his funeral director apprenticeship at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Once issued, the renewal date for the license would be February 28, 2008. Mr. Barnett attended Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Katie M. Cox
(Bedene-Wangemann) To grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $28.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today and to extend the embalming apprenticeship an additional three (3) months–until May 15, 2007. Carried. Ms. Cox will meet with the board at the April 2007 meeting to discuss the embalming apprenticeship. The board directed Mr. Smith to write and contact the supervising licensee regarding the board’s desire to have Ms. Cox gain as much practical embalming experience as possible. Ms. Cox is scheduled to complete her funeral director apprenticeship at Lawrence Funeral Chapel in Lawrence, Kansas on February 15, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the funeral director license would be March 31, 2008. Ms. Cox earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Spencer Hines
(Bedene-Smith) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $133.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $38.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Hines is scheduled to complete his apprenticeships at McGilley State Line Chapel in Kansas City, Missouri on February 22, 2007. He was employed at D.W. Newcomers Sons Overland Park Chapel for the greater majority of his apprenticeship. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be August 31, 2008. Mr. Hines attended Moberly Area Junior College in Moberly, Missouri and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Courtney E. Kurowski
(Young-Smith) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $161.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $46.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Kurowski is scheduled to complete her apprenticeships at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory in Olathe, Kansas on January 24, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be November 30, 2008. Ms. Kurowski attended Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, attended Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas and earned an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Embalmer Applicant: Ms. Elizabeth J. Robinson
(Wangemann-Holroyd) To grant an embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $42.00. Carried. Ms. Robinson completed embalming apprenticeship at Muehelbach Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri. She served the greater portion of her embalming apprenticeship at Mt. Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home and Mt. Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home–both in Kansas City, Missouri. Once issued, the renewal date for the embalming license would be June 30, 2007. Ms. Robinson attended Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director
Applicant: Mr. William J. “Bill” Love
(Young-Holroyd) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $168.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $48.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Love is scheduled to complete his apprenticeships at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas on January 23, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be December 31, 2008. Mr. Love attended Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Marilyn S. Myers
(Bedene-Smith) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $175.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $230.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Myers is scheduled to complete her apprenticeships at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka, Kansas on January 24, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be January 31, 2009. Ms. Myers attended Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Rick L. Wyckoff
(Holroyd-Wangemann) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $77.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $22.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Wyckoff is scheduled to complete his apprenticeships at Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home in Abilene, Kansas on January 25, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be November 30, 2007. Mr. Wyckoff attended Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Lisa M. Alexander
(Young-Wangemann) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $77.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $22.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Alexander is scheduled to complete her apprenticeships at Elliott Mortuary, Inc. in Hutchinson, Kansas on February 20, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be January 30, 2008. Ms. Alexander attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Juliana M. “Juli” Cornejo
(Bedene-Holroyd) To grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $28.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Cornejo is scheduled to complete her funeral directing apprenticeship at All Faiths Funeral Services in Wichita, Kansas on February 28, 2007. Once issued, the renewal date for the license would be March 31, 2008. Ms. Cornejo attended Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas, Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas and Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.
Reciprocal (Missouri) Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Brent L. Shelton
(Young-Holroyd) To grant a reciprocal (Missouri) embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $49.00 and to grant a reciprocal (Missouri) funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $14.00 and passing the written funeral director examination which will be administered later today. Carried. The renewal date for the licenses would be July 31, 2007. Mr. Shelton was granted licensure in the state of Missouri as a funeral director on May 7, 1990 and as an embalmer on May 23, 1997. He passed the Missouri State Board Examination (SBE) written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. He attended Vennard College in University Park, Iowa, and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service at Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Mr. Shelton is employed as an assistant funeral director at Beldon-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapel in Leavenworth, Kansas.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. Executive Secretary Smith read instructions to the funeral director examinee applicants prior to the administration of the funeral director examination which was proctored by Inspector Francis Mills in the Florentine Room of the Jayhawk Tower. The results of that examination are a part of these minutes.
VI. Public Regulation Hearing
A public hearing was held beginning at 1:45 p.m. to discuss two proposed regulation amendments. There were no members from the public in attendance.
A copy of the letter dated November 29, 2006 resulting from the November 20, 2006 meeting of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations (JCARR) was made a part of the public record. Copies of this letter were made available to everyone in attendance at this public hearing and will be made a part of these minutes.
A copy of the proposed regulations, economic impact statements to the proposed regulations, a copy of the letter dated November 29, 2006 from the JCARR, the Notice of Public Hearing and the email address in which written comments could be submitted to the KSBMA regarding these regulations have been published on the KSBMA web site since publication in the Kansas Register on Thursday, November 2, 2006, and copies were available for distribution at this hearing.
(Holroyd-Young) To approve the amendments to K.A.R. 63-1-1 including changes based on the comments of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations (JCARR) in their letter dated November 29, 2006. Carried.
(Smith-Holroyd) To approve the amendments to K.A.R. 63-5-1. Carried.
Roll Call Vote of board members on the individual regulations was as follows:
K.A.R.’sBedeneHolroydWangemannC. Smith Young
63-1-1YESYESYESYESYES
63-5-1YESYESYESYESYES
A copy of both regulations is included as a part of these minutes.
(Young-Holroyd) To close the public hearing. Carried.
VII. Board Business:
1) (Smith-Wangemann) To approve the quarterly lists of continuing education. Carried. One list contains correspondence/home study programs. Both of these lists of approved continuing education programs are regularly updated and are available on the board’s web site on the internet and are mailed to licensees not having internet access on a quarterly basis.
2) (Young-Smith) To approve the list of lapsed licenses as amended. Carried. The list is a part of these minutes and contains the names of individuals whose license renewals are past due for longer than six months or who have requested that their licenses be dropped. Licensees who have died during the past quarter are also included on this list for informational purposes.
3) The board reviewed the list of automatically suspended licenses. This list contains the names of individuals who have not paid their license renewal fees by the appropriate due date and have not requested that their licenses be dropped. Once a license is six months in arrears, it is then automatically placed on the lapsed license list for purposes of being dropped.
4) (Bedene-Holroyd) To approve the FY 2007 second quarter (October1-December 31, 2006) Inspection Report of the Funeral Home/Crematory Inspector, Francis F. Mills. Carried.
5) Reviewed the current roster of apprentice embalmers and funeral directors. A total of 34 apprentices are currently registered with the board.
6) Discussion of news articles relating to the funeral profession that have been provided to board members and legal counsel for their review.
7) Reminder of the 2007 Board meeting dates: April 12, July 12 and October 11.
8) The board signed travel vouchers and licenses.
9) The board reviewed information pertaining to irrevocable trusts and federally chartered Kansas credit unions. There has been no information providing proof that federally chartered Kansas credit unions are exempt from Kansas statutes/regulations.
10) Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Air Radiation involving Kansas crematories–Other than air quality control issues addressed in KAR 28-19-650, crematories built since January 1, 1971 are exempt from federal and state incinerator requirements.
11) Executive Secretary Smith discussed his attendance at a recent meeting in Kansas City, Missouri of the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors that he attended. Mr. Smith was invited to attend the meeting to discuss the KSBMA’s updated definition of embalming as well as other items similar to both Missouri and Kansas. Ms. Becky Dunn, the Missouri executive director, is scheduled to meet with Executive Secretary Smith at the KSBMA office tomorrow, Friday, January 12, 2007, to compare office/agency procedures and differences between Kansas and Missouri.
12) The State of Kansas is in the process of reclassifying certain classified positions, including the KSBMA’s position of Funeral Home/Crematory Inspector. Mr. Smith will be attending a meeting later this month involving the structure of the new state classification system and will report back to the board with any new information.
13) The Citizen Advocacy Center (CAC) has provided the board with copies of their current newsletter. Functions of the CAC were explained by Mr. Smith and discussed by the board.
14) The board discussed an email from the Alderwoods Trust and Regulatory Compliance Department. With the merger between Service Corporation International (SCI) and the Alderwoods Group, this Trust and Compliance Department was phased out of existence on January 5, 2007. Drew Gauntley and Debbie Marcotte of this department were excellent to work with regarding all Alderwoods Group business in the state of Kansas.
VIII. Executive Secretary's Report:
1) Budget Update
a) The Division of the Budget Recommendations for the KSBMA are:
I)FY 2007–$287,914
ii)FY 2008–$260,975
iii)FY 2009–$267,609
b) Governor Kathleen Sebelius delivered the State of the State Address last night. KSBMA Budget Recommendations by Governor Sebelius are:
I)FY 2007–$287,914
ii)FY 2008–$267,525 (an increase of $6,550 or 2.45%)
iii)FY 2009–$274,300 (an increase of $6,691 or 2.44%)
The Governor is recommending a 2.5% step increase and a 1.5% cost of living allowance (COLA) and a longevity increase of $10 per year for classified employees, and a 4% merit pool salary increase for unclassified employees for FY’s 2008 & 2009. The Governor Recommendations require approval by the 2007 Kansas Legislature.
c) Agency Replacement Vehicle–The agency has purchased a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu–which was delivered on Friday, January 5, 2007. The agency’s 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier will be sold by State Surplus.
2) Updated information regarding the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB.)
a) The Annual Conference will be in Nashville, Tennessee on April 20-22, 2007.
3) Updated information on the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) was discussed.
a) Mid-Year Meeting–Due to prior commitments Mr. Smith did not attend this meeting which was held on January 4-6, 2007 in Austin, Texas.
b) Annual Conference will be held on September 5-8, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.
4) Updated information regarding the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB.)
a) Mr. Smith will attend and present at the Annual Forum in San Antonio, Texas on February 2-4, 2007.
5) Updated information on the Kansas Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association (KFDA.)
a) An embalming seminar will be presented by Sharon Gee on Friday, January 19, 2007 in Wichita, Kansas.
b) The Tri-State (Kansas Missouri & Nebraska) Convention will be held in Overland Park, Kansas on April 30-May 2, 2007.
6) Information on the board’s Web Site, located at: http://www.kansas.gov/ksbma/, continues to be updated on a regular basis.
7) The board discussed information from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
8) The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Funeral Rule–No new information regarding review of the rule is known at this time.
9) Updated information from the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
10) Updated information from the Cremation Society of North America (CANA)
a) New Mercury Data and 2005 Preliminary Cremation Statistics were discussed.
11) Updated information from the Funeral Ethics Association (FEA)
12) Updated information from the Funeral Consumer Alliance (FCA)
a) The board discussed an article titled: “Going Green and Formaldehyde”
13) Updated information from the Funeral Consumer’s Alliance of Greater Kansas City–The board continues to work with this group providing informational brochures and planning guides as are needed.
14) Updated information from the Funeral Ethics Organization (FEO)
15) Updated information from the American Society of Embalmers (ASE)
16) Updated information from the Office of Vital Statistics (OVS)
a) Electronic Death Registration System (EDS) Update–OVS has continued to provide numerous training sessions to licensees throughout the state. The next group to be trained will be doctors and medical examiners/coroners.
17) Office Lease Contract–The current five-year lease expires as of August 31, 2007. The agency is going through the lease process required by the
Division of Facilities Management (DFM.)
18) Updated information from the Kansas City Kansas Community College Mortuary Science Advisory Board–Mr. Smith is a member of the Advisory Board that met on December 20, 2006. Information provided, at the meeting, includes:
a) 110-120 students are expected to enroll for the upcoming Spring 2007 Semester.
b) Beginning in April 2007 students will be able to pre-enroll for both summer and fall classes.
c) The Gibson-Todd Trust Fund pays the cost ($350.00) for any graduate of KCKCC that passes the national examination (NBE) on their first attempt.
d) 2007 Spring Semester begins on Thursday, January 18, 2007.
e) The new school requirements previously discussed will begin with the Fall 2007 Semester–not January 1, 2007.
19) Presentations:
a) Mr. Smith will present with Dr. Dirk Hanson of the Kansas Veterinary Board at the Annual FARB Forum in Austin, Texas on Saturday, February 3, 2007 from 9:00–9:45 a.m. The title of the presentation is: “Practical Tips on Running an Efficient Board Meeting.”
IX. Adjourn
Prior to adjournment the board discussed the large number of ownership changes and the opening of new funeral homes during the final quarter of calendar year 2006 in the state of Kansas.
(Smith-Holroyd) To adjourn–subject to recall by the president, vice president or executive secretary. Carried. The date of the next regularly scheduled board meeting is Thursday, April 12, 2007.
Respectfully submitted:
Mack Smith, Executive Secretary
Barry W. Bedene, President
April 12, 2007