KANSAS STATE BOARD OF MORTUARY ARTS
700 SW JACKSON, SUITE #904
TOPEKA, KANSAS 66603-3733
Wednesday-Thursday, January 13-14, 2010
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.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010:
I. The Investigative Committee (IC) of the board met to discuss and make recommendations on open complaints. Those in attendance included: William H. “Bill” Young, Lake Quivira, Licensee and Board Member Charles R. Smith, Overland Park, Consumer. The Board’s Litigation/Prosecuting Assistant Attorney General Steve Phillips and Executive Secretary Mack Smith were in attendance. IC recommendations are included with the minutes of the board.
Thursday, January 14, 2010:
II. The regularly scheduled meeting of the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts (KSBMA) was called to order by President Fred G. Holroyd.
Roll call by Executive Secretary Mack Smith with the following board members in attendance: President Fred G. Holroyd, Topeka, Licensee; Vice President William H. “Bill” Young, Lake Quivira, Licensee; and Board Member Barry W. Bedene, Arma, Licensee. The board’s Executive Secretary, Mack Smith and Assistant Attorney General Camille Nohe were in attendance. Melissa A. Wangemann, Topeka, Consumer, was unable to attend the meeting. Charles R. Smith, Overland Park, Consumer, was not present at the beginning of the meeting.
Nothing new regarding Board Appointments from the Governor’s Office.
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.
(Bedene-Young) To approve a final agenda for this meeting. Carried.
The board decided to eat lunch following conclusion of the meeting at the restaurant downstairs in the Jayhawk Tower.
(Bedene-Young) To adopt the October 8, 2009 regularly scheduled board meeting minutes as amended. Carried. These minutes will be signed by President Holroyd and Executive Secretary Smith then displayed on the board’s website.
The board reviewed results of the written funeral directors’ examination administered on October 8, 2009 noting that 80.0% (four of five applicants) were successful. There were no exit comments from examinees.
The board reviewed results of the written assistant funeral directors’ examination administered in November and December of 2009 and January of 2010 noting that 83% (5 of 6) of all applicants were successful.
Kansas Funeral Director Association (KFDA) Executive Director Pam Scott entered the meeting.
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: five (5) embalmer-funeral director applicants, one (1) funeral director applicant, two (2) reciprocal (both from Missouri) funeral director applicants and three (3) reciprocal (Alabama, Iowa and Oklahoma) embalmer-funeral director applicants. With no applicants scheduled to retake the funeral directors’ examination–a total of eleven (11) applicants are scheduled to be administered the written funeral directors' examination in conjunction with this meeting.
III. 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 assistant funeral director application and apprentice funeral director application discussed at the previous meeting have been withdrawn by the applicant at this time. No board action necessary.
The board reviewed four (4) apprentice-licensee progress reports of specific interest:
An apprentice embalmer-funeral director with three (3) quarters of apprenticeship completed. After reviewing and discussing all reports, no action was taken.
An apprentice embalmer-funeral director with two (2) different supervising licensees (one for her embalming apprenticeship and one for her funeral directing apprenticeship) with two (2) quarters of apprenticeship completed. (Bedene-Young) To write both supervising licensees and encourage them to both express their concerns to the apprentice to allow an opportunity for improvement. Carried.
An apprentice embalmer-funeral director with two (2) quarters of apprenticeship completed. Prior to this meeting, Mr. Smith wrote the apprentice with a copy to the supervising licensee and has received a response with additional information regarding the apprenticeship.
(Young-Bedene) To write the apprentice regarding the requirement of working full-time (defined by law as 40 hours per week) in addition to any other jobs currently being performed at the funeral home. Carried.
An apprentice funeral director with three (3) quarters of apprenticeship completed. After reviewing all reports, no action was taken.
Board Member Charlie Smith, Consumer, Overland Park, entered the meeting.
An apprentice embalmer-funeral director (Cassandra J. Woods-Morgan) with three (3) quarters of apprenticeship completed. After reviewing all reports, no action was taken due to action previously taken by Executive Secretary Smith.
All remaining quarterly 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 individual reports available for review.
The board reviewed letters and correspondence resulting from action taken at the October 8, 2009 meeting.
lV. Legal Discussion: Individual Complaints/investigations are listed numerically. The board did not necessarily take action in the order listed below:
Complaints and legal concerns:
The board reviewed correspondence involving complaints resulting from action taken at the meeting of October 8, 2009.
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 Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss and make recommendations on open complaints. Investigative Committee recommendations are included with the following individual complaints.
#09-10–No action necessary at this time. The file will remain open until a related criminal case has been finalized to ensure no involvement by a licensed funeral director that would warrant any board action. The trial is schedule to begin later this year.
#09-28–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to close the file. Carried. No violations noted at this time regarding a business that never opened. Should it open in the future, then the file will be revisited for further review.
#09-32–After reviewing correspondence: (Bedene-Holroyd) To close the file. Carried. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct. No violations.
#09-33–After reviewing correspondence: (Bedene-Holroyd) To close the file. Carried. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct. No violations.
#09-34–After reviewing correspondence: (Bedene-Holroyd ) To close the file. Carried. The complaint involved unprofessional conduct. No violations.
#09-35–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee of no violations and to close the file. Carried. The complaint involved a prefinanced funeral agreement funded with an insurance product that was investigated by the Kansas Insurance Department.
#09-36–After reviewing correspondence: (Bedene-Holroyd ) To close the file. Carried. The complaint involves two prefinanced funeral agreements funded with an insurance product. No violations.
#09-37–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee of no substantiated violations. Carried. Both parties will be appropriately notified. The complaint involves unprofessional conduct in a number of different areas.
#09-43–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee of no violations but to notify the licensees that better attention to detail should be taken when submitting their Roster of Prefinanced Funeral Agreements to the KSBMA. Carried. The complaint involves unprofessional conduct relating to a prefinanced funeral agreement funded with an insurance product.
#09-44–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee of no violations and to close the file. Carried. The complaint involves the Roster of Prefinanced Funeral Agreements filed with the funeral home’s branch establishment renewal.
#09-45–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee of no violations and to close the file. Carried. The complaint involves the Roster of Prefinanced Funeral Agreements filed with the funeral home’s establishment renewal.
#09-46–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify both parties of no violations. Carried. The complaint involves the value of a prefinanced funeral agreement when utilized at-need and the additional amount billed to the family.
#09-47–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify the funeral home of no violations but to pay better attention to detail and do a better job of communicating in order to avoid any similar situations from occurring in the future. Carried. The complaint involves unprofessional conduct in failure to file a death certificate in a timely manner.
#09-48–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee and to refer the case to the Consumer Protection Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and to close the file. Carried. The complaint involves improper sale of a burial plot and burial in the wrong cemetery plot.
#09-49–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify the licensee to pay better attention to detail in future endeavors and to switch the effective date on all price lists that were changed. Carried. The complaint involves the price list of a funeral home related to embalming.
#09-50–No action necessary at this time. The Investigative Committee will obtain some additional financial information from both parties when it becomes available and make a recommendation to the board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
#09-51–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify both parties of no violations. Carried. The complaint involves unprofessional conduct.
#09-52–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify the licensee that any similar actions in the future will result in disciplinary action taken by the board. Carried. The complaint involves fraudulent, deceptive and/or misleading advertising.
#09-53–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee that based on information provided during the course of the investigation there are no violations. Carried. The complaint involves unlicensed activity and concerns with an apprenticeship.
#09-54–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to adjust all future advertising regarding appropriate wording so as not to be fraudulent, deceptive or misleading in nature. Carried. The complaint involves fraudulent, deceptive and/or misleading advertising.
#10-01–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to request written justification of the use of an unlicensed facility name. Carried. The complaint involves wording of an unlicensed facility in newspaper obituaries.
#10-02–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to request written justification of the use of an unlicensed facility name. Carried. The complaint involves wording of an unlicensed facility in newspaper obituaries.
#10-03–(Young-C. Smith) To adopt the recommendations of the Investigative Committee to notify the licensee that any similar actions in the future will result in disciplinary action taken by the board. Carried. The complaint involves fraudulent, deceptive and/or misleading advertising.
The board reviewed and discussed information regarding National Prearranged Services (NPS) and Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Company. The insurance company remains in receivership. Information continues to be updated on the KSBMA web site once it becomes available.
The Attorney General Opinion requested by the KSBMA upon request by the KFDA was discussed. The informal AG Opinion backed up previous board actions that current laws allow unlicensed individuals working with a licensed funeral establishment to offer the disposition of cremation directly to the public.
V. Legislative Discussion
The board reviewed and discussed legislation to be considered for introduction during the 2010 Kansas Legislative Session. A draft legislative proposal concerning cremation was previously provided to the board and KFDA Executive Director Pam Scott by Mr. Smith following review by Assistant Attorney General Nohe. The proposal was discussed by all in attendance with the following action taken by the board:
(Bedene-C. Smith) To request introduction during the 2010 Kansas Legislative Session. Carried. Language for this proposed legislation was provided to KFDA members with no opposition or concerns voiced.
The board discussed proposed legislation that the KFDA will request introduction of during the 2010 Kansas Legislative Session involving three (3) areas:
Bill #1 would be new legislation requiring several new disclosures relating to prefinanced funeral agreements. The bill would also require that within sixty (60) days from the date in which the prefinanced funeral agreement is executed, the entity in which the funds have been deposited (financial institution, insurance company . . .) will give the purchaser written notice that the funds have been deposited.
Bill #2 would amend the definition of a funeral director in KSA 65-1713 to clarify whether a funeral directors’ license would be required to arrange a direct cremation (related to the informal Attorney General Opinion previously mentioned.) The bill would require that only licensees deal directly with the public when arranging, directing or supervising the disposition of dead human bodies which includes cremation–similar to the current provision in the crematory law that requires that a crematory could only deal with the public if the crematory operator in charge was a licensed funeral director. The amendments would give the KSBMA jurisdiction over the person directing direct cremations to the public if the crematory operator in charge was a licensed funeral director.
Bill #3 would increase the maximum amount of an irrevocable agreement from $5,000 from $7,000–not including the price of a casket or outer container in KSA 16-303.
(C. Smith-Young) To support the KFDA’s proposed new legislation outlined in Bill #1 relating to disclosures of prefinanced funeral agreements. Carried.
(Holroyd-) To support the KFDA’s proposed legislation outlined in Bill #2 amending the definition of a funeral director in KSA 65-1713. Motion failed due to lack of a second.
(C. Smith-Young) To take a neutral position on KFDA proposed legislation outlined in Bill #2 relating to amending the definition of a funeral director in KSA 65-1713. Carried. 3-1, Holroyd voting no.
(C. Smith-Bedene) To take a neutral position on KFDA proposed legislation outlined in Bill #3 which would increase the irrevocable agreement maximum for prefinanced funeral agreements from $5,000 to $7,000 in KSA 16-303. Carried. Board discussion was that it was not appropriate for the KSBMA to take a position on this type of legislation.
KFDA Executive Director Pam Scott exited the meeting.
VI. Board Business:
1) (Young-Bedene) To approve the quarterly lists of continuing education (CE.) 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) (C. Smith-Young) 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, who have requested that their licenses be dropped, or who have died. Seven (7) assistant funeral director licenses, nine (9) funeral director licenses and seven (7) embalmer licenses were on the list due to a number of reasons, including: no longer employed, personal request, nonpayment of renewal fees and death. Information is provided for a number of reasons, including use by the Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) for purposes of licensure verification as used on death certificates.
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. Three (3) embalmer licenses, and five (5) funeral directors were included on this list for the months with renewals due by the end of July through December 31, 2009.
4) (Bedene-Young) To approve the FY 2010 second quarter (October 1-December 31, 2009) Report of the Funeral Home/Crematory Inspector, Francis F. Mills. Carried. 154 inspections were conducted during the quarter including six (6) violations relating to failure to display licenses and preparation room issues were noted.
5) Reviewed the current roster of apprentice embalmers and funeral directors. A total of 25 apprentices are currently registered with the board at this time, including: eighteen (18) embalmer-funeral directors, three (3) embalmers and four (4) funeral directors.
6) Discussion of news articles relating to the funeral profession that has been provided to board members and legal counsel for their review. Items include: Walmart has entered the retail casket business, how some cemeteries are dealing with the recession, and how an Arizona licensee intends to open a funeral home in Preston, Kansas.
7) Regularly scheduled remaining 2010 board meeting dates are: April 8, July 8 and October 14.
8) The board signed travel vouchers and licenses.
9) Effective January 1, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has reduced the private vehicle maximum reimbursement rate for FY 2010 from 55 cents to 50 cents per mile. This decrease is required pursuant to KSA 75-3203a(c)(1) with the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration and will decrease the reimbursement rate for board members and in certain situations for agency employees using private vehicles for business purposes.
10) The board reviewed an article regarding the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery State Board and their enforcement of provisions of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule.
VII. Executive Secretary's Report:
1) Budget Update–The board reviewed budget recommendations for FY 2010 and FY 2011 that were provided by the Division of Budget (DOB) on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The budget request for current FY 2010 remains $271,510. The budget request for FY 2011 was $275,039. Governor Parkinson’s recommendations during his State of the State Address on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. left the KSBMA FY 2010 budget at $271,510 but cut the FY 2011 budget to $271, 510–representing a cut of $3,529. The Legislature will then review these recommendations and make their decision on the budgets which must then be signed by the Governor.
2) Updated information regarding the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB).
a) Executive Secretary Smith will represent the board at the 2010 ICFSEB’s Annual Convention in Los Angeles, California on February 25-26, 2010.
b) The board reviewed the Fall 2009 Conference Report.
c) The board reviewed the December Conference Update.
3) Updated information on the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) was discussed.
a) Due to budget restraints, Mr. Smith did not attend the Annual Clear Conference held in Denver, Colorado or the Mid-Year Meeting held in New Orleans, Louisianna.
4) Updated information regarding the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (FARB.)
a) Due to budget restraints, Mr. Smith did not attend the 2010 Annual FARB Forum held on January 28-30, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5) Updated information on the Kansas Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association (KFDA.)
a) Mr. Smith will represent the board at the KFDA’s 2010 Spring Regional Meetings at four (4) locations around the state, tentatively scheduled for March 1-4, 2010 with locations to be determined.
6) New/updated information located on the board’s Web Site, which can be found at: http://www.kansas.gov/ksbma/.
a) There were over 100,000 successful requests/hits on the KSBMA web site for the month of October 2009–which is the highest recorded total since records have been kept.
b) Kansas.gov continues to work on setting up the entire KSBMA renewal process so that it will be able to be performed on-line. Scheduling changes have pushed the project back to beginning in May of 2010 still with no cost to the agency. Currently, license renewals can be paid on-line but are not final until all paperwork has been filed with the board.
c) The KSBMA Rule Book was updated to contain laws in place as of October 15, 2009. The rule book can be printed from the KSBMA web site at no cost or a hard copy can be purchased for $5.00 per copy when ordered through the KSBMA office.
7) The board discussed information pertaining to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA).
a) Due to budget restraints, Mr. Smith did not attend the 2009 NFDA Annual Convention held in Boston, MA.
8) Updated information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the Funeral Rule was discussed, including recently introduced federal legislation, H.R. 3655, named The 2009 Consumer’s Bill of Rights, that would, among several things, amend the current rule to include cemeteries.
9) Updated information from the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE.)
10) Updated information from the Cremation Society of North America (CANA.)
a) The September/October 2009 CANA Update was discussed as the KSBMA continues to be a member of CANA.
11) Updated information from the Funeral Ethics Association (FEA).
12) Updated information from the Funeral Consumer Alliance (FCA).
a) The Summer/Fall 2009 Newsletter was discussed.
13) Updated information from the Funeral Consumer’s Alliance of Greater Kansas City.
a) The Fall 2009 Newsletter was discussed.
b) The Fall 2009 Funeral Price Survey was reviewed.
14) Updated information from the Funeral Ethics Organization (FEO).
15) Updated information from the American Society of Embalmers (ASE.)
a) The October Quarterly Journal was discussed.
16) Updated information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Office of Vital Statistics (OVS.)
a) Amendments regarding regulation pertaining to death certificates were discussed. The cost of death certificates will increase from $13 for the first copy and $8 for each additional copy to $15 per copy.
17) Updated information from the Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) Mortuary Science Program.
18) Kansas Mass Fatality Planning Task Force
19) The board was provided an updated copy of the Kansas Largest Corporations Listing.
20) Presentations: “My Journey Through State Government” was presented by Executive Secretary Smith to the Kansas Department of Administration’s Developing Leaders Program.
(Bedene-Young) To enter executive session at 12:14 p.m. for fifteen (15) minutes with the executive secretary and Assistant Attorney General Camille Nohe for attorney-client privilege. Carried.
12:29 p.m. The board returned to regular session.
VIII. Board Interviews with Applicants for Licensure:
Reciprocal (Oklahoma) Reciprocal Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Jolene S. (Mosler) Gaier
(C. Smith-Young) To grant a reciprocal embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $49.00 and to grant a funeral directors’ license upon payment of an initial license fee of $66.50 and passing the written examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Gaier was licensed in Oklahoma as an embalmer-funeral director on January 10, 2002. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be July 31, 2010. Ms. Gaier attended Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas and earned an Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Funeral Service at the University of Central Oklahoma located in Edmond, Oklahoma. She passed the National Board Examination (NBE) written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) on July 18, 2001 and will be employed at Murdock Funeral Home in Oswego, Kansas.
Reciprocal (Missouri) Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Donnie R. Criswell
(Bedene-C. Smith) To grant a reciprocal funeral directors’ license upon payment of an initial license fee of $28.50 and passing the written examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Criswell was licensed in Missouri as a funeral director on April 1, 2008. Once issued, the renewal date for the funeral director license would be March 31, 2010. Mr. Criswell attended Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri and earned a Business Administration (BBA) Degree in Marketing at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) on May 11, 1984. He is employed at Elite Funeral Chapel in Kansas City, Missouri.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Pamela J. Baker
(Young-Bedene) To grant an embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $182.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $232.00 and passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Baker completed her embalming and funeral directing apprenticeships at Mid-America Mortuary Services in Kansas City, Kansas on January 9, 2010. Ms. Baker worked at Highland Park Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas on funeral directing duties. Once issued, the renewal date for both licenses would be February 28, 2012. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and earned an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Shannon K. Christians
(Young-C. Smith) To grant an embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $21.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $6.00 and passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Christians completed his embalming and funeral directing apprenticeships at Christians Funeral Home in Lindsborg, Kansas on December 31, 2009. Once issued, the renewal date for both licenses would be March 31, 2010. He attended Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas and earned a Bachelor in Science (BS) Degree in Funeral Science at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Kacey D. Ferguson
(Young-C. Smith) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $42.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $12.00 and passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. With continuous employment, Ms. Ferguson is scheduled to complete her embalming and funeral directing apprenticeships on January 23, 2010 at Lanman Funeral Home in Kiowa, Kansas. Once issued, the renewal date for both licenses would be June 30, 2010. She attended Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma and graduated with the equivalent of an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Funeral Science at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, Oklahoma. Ms. Ferguson is licensed in Oklahoma.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Abby R. Finley
(Bedene-Holroyd) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship and payment of an initial license fee of $35.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon completion of apprenticeship, payment of an initial license fee of $10.00 and passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. With continuous employment, Ms. Finley is scheduled to complete her embalming and funeral directing apprenticeships on February 17, 2010 at Smith Mortuary in Derby, Kansas. Once issued, the renewal date for both licenses would be June 30, 2010. She attended Newman College in Wichita, Kansas, Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas and earned an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Aaron M. Thaete
(Bedene-Young) To grant an embalmer license upon completion of apprenticeship, 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. With continuous employment, Mr. Thaete is scheduled to complete his embalming and funeral directing apprenticeships on February 2, 2010 at DW Newcomers Sons Overland Park Chapel in Overland Park, Kansas. Mr. Thaete served the first half of his apprenticeships at Amos Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Shawnee, Kansas. Once issued, the renewal date for both licenses would be August 31, 2011. He attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Education at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas , attended the Metropolitan Community Colleges in Kansas City, Missouri and earned an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. Daniel J. Werner
(Bedene-C. Smith) To grant a funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $44.00 and passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Werner completed his funeral directing apprenticeship at Dove Funeral Home in Topeka, Kansas on January 9, 2010. Once issued, the renewal date for his funeral director license would be November 30, 2011. Mr. Werner earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
Reciprocal (Missouri) Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Prudence R. Lee
(Young-Holroyd) To grant Ms. Lee a funeral director license via reciprocity, passing the written funeral director examination, which will be administered later today, and upon payment of an initial license fee of $24.00. Carried. Ms. Lee attended Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas. She has been licensed as a funeral director in the State of Missouri since 1993 and is currently employed at Mrs. J.W. Jones Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, Kansas as an assistant funeral director.
Reciprocal (Alabama) Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Mr. David M. Cruise
(Bedene-Holroyd) To grant a reciprocal embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $21.00 and to grant a funeral director license upon payment of an initial license fee of $6.00 and passing the written examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Mr. Cruise was licensed in Alabama as an embalmer-funeral director on August 1, 1977. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be March 31, 2010. Mr. Cruise earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and earned a Certificate at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama. He passed the State Board Examination (SBE) written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) and administered by the Alabama State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. He is currently employed as an assistant funeral director at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home in Ottawa, Kansas and also serves as the managing partner for the Lamb-Roberts facilities.
Reciprocal (Iowa) Reciprocal Embalmer-Funeral Director Applicant: Ms. Abby M. Brown
(Bedene-Young) To grant a reciprocal embalmer license upon payment of an initial license fee of $182.00 and to grant a funeral directors’ license upon payment of an initial license fee of $247.00 and passing the written examination, which will be administered later today. Carried. Ms. Brown was licensed in Iowa on October 6, 2005 as a funeral director (the equivalent of a Kansas embalmer-funeral director) on August 1, 1977. Once issued, the renewal date for the licenses would be February 28, 2012. Ms. Brown attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, earned an Associate in Arts degree at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, and earned an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, Kansas. She passed the National Board Examination (NBE) written by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) on July 8, 2004. She is employed at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, Mid-Town Chapel in Topeka, Kansas .
IX. New/Old/Remaining Business/Adjournment
There was no new, old, or remaining business brought up.
(Young-Bedene) 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 8, 2010.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. Executive Secretary Smith read instructions to the funeral directors’ 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.
Respectfully submitted:
Mack Smith, Executive Secretary
Fred G. Holroyd, President