§ 1211. Definitions

(a) As used in this chapter, unless a contrary meaning is required by the context:

(1) [Repealed.]

(2) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation.

(3) “Funeral director” means a licensed person who is the owner, co-owner, employee, or manager of a licensed funeral establishment and who, for compensation, engages in the practice of funeral service.

(4) “Funeral establishment” means a business registered with the Office conducted at a specific street address or location devoted to the practice of funeral service, and includes a limited services establishment.

(5) “Office” means the Office of Professional Regulation.

(6) “Practice of funeral service” means arranging, directing, or providing for the care, preparation, or disposition of dead human bodies for a fee or other compensation. This includes:

(A) meeting with the public to select a method of disposition or funeral observance and merchandise;

(B) entering into contracts, either at-need or pre-need, for the provision of dispositions, funeral observances, and merchandise;

(C) arranging, directing, or performing the removal or transportation of a dead human body;

(D) securing or filing certificates, permits, forms, or other documents;

(E) supervising or arranging a funeral, memorial, viewing, or graveside observance; and

(F) holding oneself out to be a licensed funeral director by using the words or terms “funeral director,” “mortician,” “undertaker,” or any other words, terms, title, or picture that, when considered in context, would imply that such person is engaged in the practice of funeral service or is a licensed funeral director.

(7) “Removal” means the removal of dead human bodies from places of death, hospitals, institutions, or other locations, for a fee or other compensation.

(8) “Disposition facility” means a business registered with the Office conducted at a specific street address or location devoted to the disposition of human remains by means of cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.

(9) “Natural organic reduction” has the same meaning as in 18 V.S.A. § 5302.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit:

(1) cemetery owners, associations, or their employees from engaging in any functions normally performed by them in the course of their everyday affairs as allowed by 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 121;

(2) the University of Vermont from engaging in functions normally performed by it in the course of receiving anatomical gifts for research or education, provided that embalming and removal of dead human remains are performed by persons licensed or registered under this chapter;

(3) immediate family members of the deceased from providing for the care, preparation, or disposition of dead human bodies; or

(4) religious or spiritual persons directly authorized by the immediate family members or authorized person of the deceased from providing for the care or preparation of dead human bodies without compensation.

(c) Notwithstanding this section, owners of a disposition facility and their personnel may engage in the listed activities in subdivision (a)(6) of this section only to the extent such functions are necessary to the performance of their duties. Specifically, personnel at a disposition facility may:

(1) provide for the disposition of dead human bodies by cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction and meet with the public to arrange and provide for the disposition;

(2) enter into contracts, without taking prepaid funds, for the provision of dispositions by cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction;

(3) arrange, direct, or perform the removal or transportation of a dead human body, provided that removals are performed by licensed removal personnel; and

(4) secure and file certificates, permits, forms, or other documents. (Amended 1959, No. 224, § 3; 1995, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 1a; 1999, No. 52, § 12; 2001, No. 151 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. June 27, 2002; 2013, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2017, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 2021, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. January 1, 2023.)