(a) Every funeral establishment, prior to drafting any contract for funeral goods or services, shall present to the survivor of the deceased who is handling the funeral arrangements, or the responsible party, a statement disclosing whether or not the funeral establishment has any preneed agreement made by or on behalf of the deceased. If the funeral establishment has a preneed agreement made by or on behalf of the deceased, the statement shall also declare the establishment’s compliance with Section 7745. The disclosure statement shall be signed and dated by the representative of the funeral establishment and by the survivor or responsible party. The completed disclosure statement shall be retained by the funeral establishment for a period of time determined by the bureau, and a copy shall be given to the survivor or responsible party.
(b) The bureau shall develop a form, in consultation with the funeral industry and any other interested parties, that is separate and distinct from other forms, upon which the disclosure statement shall be made. The bureau shall make the form available to funeral establishments for purposes of reproduction and distribution, and the form shall also be available electronically through the Internet. The form shall be simple and easy to read and shall include all of the following:
(1) The definition of a preneed arrangement, adopted by the bureau by regulation.
(2) A statement of the funeral establishment’s responsibilities under Section 7745.
(3) Information about how the consumer may contact the bureau for more information or how to file a complaint against a licensee.
(c) A violation of this section constitutes grounds for disciplinary action.
(d) This section shall become operative July 1, 2002.
(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 715, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2002. Section operative July 1, 2002, by its own provisions.)