Hearing Held | Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act-YourFuneralGuy

On 1/27/20010 a hearing was held on the Bereaved Consumers Bill Of Rights Act by Congressman Bobby Rush. Four organizations testified according to WGN Radio 720 in Chicago. The Hearing was held by the House Committee on  Commerce and Energy. The legislation was brought on by the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal

CLICK HERE FOR FULL NEWS COVERAGE ON THE HEARING

NFDA-The National Funeral Directors Association-represented by Randal L Earl.

Earl Said that the NFDA supported the bill, but requested that Amazon.com and WalMart.com(selling Caskets) be covered by the FTC regulation. They must pose a threat!

FTC-Federal Trade Commission represented by Charles Harwood, deputy director of it’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Harwood stated that most cemeteries operate as non-profits, and that the FTC does not currently regulate them.

ICOTF- Illinois Cemetery Oversight Task Force represented by Patricia Brown Holmes, a retired judge.

Holmes said that the public thinks that cemetery and funeral people are one in the same and BOTH should be regulated.- This is an important statement for the funeral consumer.

ICCFA-International Cemetery Cremation represented byPaul M. Elvig

Elvig stated he was against the bill becoming law and  that  the legislation  would  make life diffucult for the non profit an religious cemeteries.by Your Funeral Guy.

Funeral Industry|Funeral News| Funeral Blog

CLICK HERE TO VISIT BEREAVED CONSUMERS PROTECTION ACT.COM  FOR ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ON THIS BILL.

In Congress the legislation is known as the Rush Bill

Source:WGN Radio.com

Illinois:Burr Oak Cemetery reform legislation passes-YourFuneralGuy

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal brought cemetery reform to Illinois

In Illinois State wide Cemetery reform passed the Illinois Legislature and went to the Governor this past week. This  is  a significant step toward stopping Funeral and Cemetery Scandal in the State of Illinois.

The governor of the State Pat Quinn praised the  legislation in his State of the State address.

When it becomes law there will be changes to help the funeral and cemetery consumer in Illinois.

Here area few of the changes that will take place in Illinois when the bill becomes law:

1.Cemetery owners, managers and customer service employees would have to be licensed,

2.Regulatory agency will conduct audits

3.Regulatory agency will issue fines of up to $10,000 for violations such as poor grounds upkeep or failing to keep burial maps.

In the aftermath of a widely publicized scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery, the Illinois House voted Wednesday to toughen regulation and improve oversight of state cemeteries.

Gov. Quinn all but signed the legislation during his State of the State speech, applauding the act as important reform…..

Under the bill sparked by Burr Oak, all cemetery workers will be required to register with the state, and owners, managers and customer service employees would have to be licensed. The bill also places cemetery oversight under the governor’s authority, taking it away from the state comptroller’s office.

via m.suntimes.com

The Citizens of the State of Illinois have spoken. No Burr oak Cemetery Scandal ever again.

Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral  Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Name Change|Game Changer|Bereaved Consumer Bll of Rights-YourFuneralGuy

The Bereaved Consumers Bill Of Rights has been introduced in Congress

The Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights went through a name change in the last week.  In a press release and News Conference Congressman Bobby Rush introduced the “NEW LEGISLATION” as the Bereaved Consumers Protection Act.

On Friday September 25th 2009 the Legislation  was introduced as the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights

The Game changing Funeral and Cemetery Legislation requires cemeteries, crematories, and  monument companies to follow  the Funeral Rule.

Click Here to View the” BEREAVED CONSUMERS BILL OF RIGHTS”

It requires Funeral Directors to be clear in the presentation of  “Funeral Packages” the age old ploy to take advantage of funeral consumers in their Grief,

Funeral Industry|Cemetery Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Bereaved Consumers Protection Act-Details next week-YourFuneralGuy

There is legislation in Congress on funeral and cemetery reform

Detail of the proposed  legislation reforming cemeteries and funerals will not be available till next week. The United States Congress will put the legislation in print and on the internet by then.

At the time of this blog post the Bill  proposed in the US  House was not available. There is more on the Bereaved Consumers Protection Act here.

Congressman Bobby Rush has stated that the legislation contains both a Cemetery and FUNERAL BILL OF RIGHTS©

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Cemetery| Funeral Bill of Rights©-YourFuneralGuy

Cemetery and Funeral Bill of Rights© needs to pass Congress.

Congressman Bobby Rush has announced a Cemetery and Funeral Bill of Rights© in the proposed Bereaved Consumers Protection Act.

This is an effective response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal(near Chicago) discovered in July: Over Three hundred graves were desecrated.

In the Eden Memorial Park Scandal discovered in Mission Hills California last week over 500 graves were desecrated.

There has never been nationwide Cemetery Legislation and as of now there is generally no way to file a complaint against a cemetery to get resolution.

Today you can file a complaint against a funeral home and get resolution. This is done under the Funeral Rule.

There is no place to file a complaint for cemeteries.

This is why the legislation makes sense. The bad guys can be stopped,if the cemetery and funeral  bill of rights is enacted-proposed Bereaved Consumers Protection Act.

Snippet from NBCchicago.com

“Legislation being introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush would establish a national bill of rights for consumers of cemetery and funeral home services.

The Chicago Democrat unveiled the Bereaved Consumers Protection Act during a news conference Monday.

The act would amend the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule. The rule prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the funeral operations industry.”

Cemetery|Funeral| Industry Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

National Cemetery Legislation to be introduced 9.21.09-YourFuneralGuy

National Cemetery Legislation to be revealed 09.21.09

National  cemetery legislation will be proposed Monday, 9.21.09  by Illinois US Congressman Bobby Rush(-D).  This according to the Chicago Tribune.

The legislation will be proposed in response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal. In July it was discovered that three hundred graves were desecrated. Bone were found in piles at various locations around the cemetery.

MORE INFORMATION:BereavedConsumersProtectionAct.com

The first step to national cemetery reform is to bring Cemeteries in under the “funeral rule”. “The Funeral Rule” is a body of law that keeps funeral directors honest with the Consumer.

The “Funeral Rule” doesn’t stop all funeral directors from taking advantage of consumers. It is an effective deterrent. Bringing cemeteries in under the Funeral Rule will do the same.

Funeral Industry|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Source: The Chicago Tribune and the  funeral|cemetery experience of Your Funeral Guy.

Can anyone say Funeral|Cemetery Czar?

Burr Oak Cemetery Task Force REPORTS-your funeral guy.

Burr oak Cemetery Report completed

The  Burr Oak Cemetery Task Force has reported to the Governor of the State of Illinois on CEMETERY REFORM. Specific recommendations have been given. In the session last hearing Thursday the politics of the Race for Governor  was front and center, Gubernatorial candidate Dan Hynes went on for an hour defending his actions..

In the Governors Press  Release  there appears to be no statement on what will be done for the families that were victims of the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal.

The focus is the prevention of Future scandals like the one that happened at Burr oak cemetery in 2009

Snippet from “Governor Quinn Receives Final Cemetery Oversight Task Force Report
Will Review Plans for Tougher Industry Regulations”

“Among the Cemetery Oversight Task Force recommendations:

• Consolidate regulatory authority of funeral and burial practices into the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• Enact the Cemetery Oversight Act, which will ensure that only qualified persons can own, operate or work in a cemetery in Illinois.
• Amend and consolidate existing statutes to strengthen industry regulation and enforcement.

The Task Force heard testimony from families with loved ones buried at Burr Oak, other cemetery and law enforcement experts, industry professionals, and government officials. Each provided insight into the type of laws, regulations and oversight needed to protect the dignity of loved ones after death.”

DOWNLOAD THE FULL CEMETERY TASK FORCE REPORT HERE

Funeral Industry Funeral Blog by R.Brian Burkhardt

House Panel to Propose Federal Cemetery Legislation-YourfuneralGuy

A US House Panel will propose National Cemetery Legislation

The  US House subcommittee( Panel) meeting in response to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal stated that they will propose National Cemetery Legislation. The subcommittee met in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

Here is a brief summary of what happened.

1. The Comptroller of the State of Illinois Dan Hynes stated that cemetery law is inconsistent in the State. Right now the Comptroller only regulates financial matters(including pre need contracts)

2. Joshua Slocum the head of The (FCA) Funeral Consumers Alliance stated that Cemetery Regulation is Inconsistent across the United States of America.. and that there needs to be clear Rules. Slocum and the FCA are clear cut advocates for cemetery and Funeral Reform reform.

3. US Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. Stated that cemetery plots should be deeded. That would eliminate future Burr Oak Cemetery Scandals. This is an excellent proposal.

4. The Reverend Jesse Jackson stated that cemeteries should provide online plot information.

The United States Congress Congressional Subcommittee Was Formed By Congressman Bobby Rush.

Opposition is expected from SCI (Service Corporation International ) and STEI (Stewart Enterprises International) The two largest funeral corporations that hold  also own a significant number of cemeteries.

Generally different regulations exist for religious, private and city cemeteries.

Odds are legislation would lower the average cost of a funeral.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Source Chicago Tribune

MORE INFO:

Bobby Rush to propose Cemetery Legislation