The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday passed House Bill 481, legislation that makes changes to laws affecting Ohio’s funeral homes and funeral directors.

Among provisions included in the bill is establishing a new procedure to allow funeral directors and embalmers to place their licenses on inactive status. After being on inactive status, a funeral director or embalmer must pass an Ohio funeral laws exam before returning to the profession.

House Bill 481 also allows the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors to issue courtesy card licenses to funeral directors in bordering states to conduct limited funeral related activities in Ohio. The adjoining state must have a similar law that grants Ohio funeral directors to conduct funeral related activities in that state.

Also under the bill, funeral homes can continue to operate until the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors meets to review a new application when an existing funeral home is sold and the new owner files a new funeral home license application.

Finally, the bill authorizes funeral directors from other states to come to Ohio and assist Ohio funeral directors during a declared emergency.

The Ohio House unanimously concurred on amendments to HB 481 by the Ohio Senate, and the bill will now be sent to the governor for his signature.