9780-9789
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 9780-9789
9780. A crematory established, operated, or maintained, may be operated by a corporation, partnership, or natural person, provided that a valid crematory license shall have been issued by the bureau. Any existing crematory operated by a licensed cemetery authority on January 1, 2002, shall have until January 1, 2003, to make application for a crematory license. 9780.5. Any change in the ownership of a crematory shall be reported to the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Any transfer in a single transaction or a related series of transactions of more than 50 percent of the equitable interest in a licensed crematory shall constitute a change of ownership. When a change of ownership in a crematory occurs, the existing crematory license shall lapse and the new owner shall obtain a new license from the bureau as otherwise provided in this act. The bureau shall not require an applicant under this section to obtain any new permit or license from any other governmental agency when the existing permit or license is valid. 9781. Application for a crematory license shall be made in writing on the form prescribed by the bureau and filed at the principal office of the bureau. The application shall be accompanied by the fee provided for in this article and shall show that the applicant owns or is actively operating a crematory in this state or that the applicant is in a position to commence operating such a crematory. 9781.5. The provisions of Article 5 (commencing with Section 8340) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 8 of the Health and Safety Code shall apply to crematories licensed under this chapter. 9782. The bureau may require such proof as it deems advisable concerning the compliance by such applicant with all the laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and orders applicable to the applicant and shall not issue such crematory license until it has satisfied itself that the public interest will be served by such applicant. 9783. (a) The bureau shall adopt, and may from time to time amend, rules and regulations prescribing standards of knowledge and experience and financial responsibility for applicants for a crematory license. In reviewing an application for a crematory license, the bureau may consider acts of the applicant, including acts of incorporators, officers, directors, and stockholders of the applicant, which shall constitute grounds for the denial of a crematory license under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475). (b) Upon receipt of an application for a crematory license, the bureau may cause an investigation to be made of the physical status, plans, specifications, and financing of the proposed crematory, the character of the applicant, including, if applicable, its officers, directors, shareholders, or members, and any other qualifications required of the applicant under this article, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and take testimony. At the time of the filing of the application required by this article, the applicant shall pay to the Cemetery Fund the sum fixed by the bureau at not in excess of four hundred dollars ($400) to defray the expenses of investigation. In the event the sum shall be insufficient to defray all of the expenses, the applicant shall within five days after request therefor deposit an additional sum sufficient to defray such expenses, provided that the total sum shall not exceed the sum of nine hundred dollars ($900). 9784. No crematory licensee under this article shall conduct any cremations: (a) Unless the licensee has a written contract with the person or persons entitled to custody of the remains clearly stating the location, manner, and time of disposition to be made of the remains, agreeing to pay the regular fees of the licensee for cremation, disposition, and other services rendered, and any other contractual provisions as may be required by the bureau. (b) Of any remains more than 24 hours after delivery of the remains, unless the remains have been preserved in the interim by refrigeration or embalming. (c) Unless the licensee has a contractual relationship with a licensed cemetery authority for final disposition of cremated human remains by burial, entombment or inurnment of any and all remains which are not lawfully disposed of or which are not called for or accepted by the person or persons entitled to the custody and control of the disposition thereof within 90 days of the date of death. 9784.5. Every crematory licensee, who prohibits relatives or the responsible party from viewing the cremation process, shall disclose this fact in writing to the person or persons entitled to custody of the remains prior to the signing of any contract. 9785. Each crematory licensee shall keep such records as may be required by the bureau to assure compliance with all laws relating to the disposition of cremated human remains and shall file annually with the bureau, a report in the form prescribed by the bureau, describing the operations of the licensee, including the number of cremations made, the disposition thereof, and any other information as the bureau may, from time to time, require. 9786. Every crematory licensee operating a crematory pursuant to a license issued in compliance with this article shall pay an annual regulatory charge for each crematory, to be fixed by the bureau at not more than four hundred dollars ($400). In addition to an annual regulatory charge for each crematory, every licensee operating a crematory pursuant to a license issued pursuant to this article shall pay an additional charge to be fixed by the bureau at not more than eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) per cremation made during the preceding quarter, which charges shall be deposited in the Cemetery Fund. 9787. (a) Each crematory for which a crematory license is required shall be operated under the supervision of a manager qualified in accordance with rules adopted by the bureau. Each manager shall be required to successfully pass a written examination evidencing an understanding of the applicable provisions of this code and of the Health and Safety Code. (b) On and after July 1, 2003, no person shall engage in the business of, act in the capacity of, or advertise or assume to act as, a crematory manager without first obtaining a license from the bureau. 9787.2. A crematory shall at all times employ a licensed crematory manager to manage, supervise, and direct its operations. (a) Every crematory shall designate a licensed crematory manager to manage the crematory, and shall report the designation to the bureau within 10 days of the effective date. Any change in the designated manager shall be reported to the bureau within 10 days. (b) The designated crematory manager shall be responsible for exercising direct supervision and control over the operations, employees, and agents of the crematory as is necessary to ensure full compliance with the applicable provisions of the Business and Professions Code, the Health and Safety Code, and any regulations adopted thereto. Failure of the designated crematory manager or the licensed crematory to exercise that supervision or control shall constitute a ground for disciplinary action. (c) A crematory may employ, in addition to the designated crematory manager, additional licensed crematory managers. However, only one licensed crematory manager may be appointed as the designated crematory manager of the crematory. 9787.3. (a) Application for a crematory manager license shall be made in writing on the form provided by the bureau, verified by the applicant and filed at the principal office of the bureau. The application shall be accompanied by the fee fixed by this chapter. (b) The applicant for a crematory manager license shall be at least 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480, shall demonstrate compliance with the training and experience requirements established by the bureau, and shall be a resident of this state. (c) The bureau shall grant a crematory manager license to any applicant who meets the requirements of this chapter and who has successfully passed the crematory manager examination administered by the bureau. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), until July 1, 2004, the bureau shall grant a crematory manager license to any applicant who meets the requirements of this chapter and can demonstrate that he or she has, prior to January 1, 2003, successfully passed the crematory manager examination administered by the bureau. Any person who is eligible to obtain a crematory manager license under this subdivision and who does not apply for a license by July 1, 2004, shall apply for and successfully pass the examination. 9787.4. (a) No person shall engage in or conduct, or hold himself or herself out as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a crematory manager without holding a valid, unexpired crematory manager license issued by the bureau. (b) No licensed crematory manager shall engage in or conduct, or hold himself or herself out as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a crematory manager without being employed by, or without being a sole proprietor, partner, or corporate officer of, a licensed crematory. 9788. It is a misdemeanor for any person, firm, or corporation to cremate human remains or to engage in the disposition thereof without a valid, unexpired crematory license. Each cremation shall be a separate violation. 9789. A crematory licensee shall be subject to and shall be disciplined by the bureau in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 9725).