Title 3 — District of Columbia Boards and Commissions.

The purposes of this chapter are to provide for the licensure and regulation of funeral directors, apprentice funeral directors, and funeral services establishments in the District of Columbia, and to protect the public from fraudulent, unfair, and deceptive practices by persons …

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) “Adult” means a person who is 18 years of age or older. (2) “Apprentice funeral director” means any person licensed by the District to engage in learning the practice, or to engage in the practice, of funeral directing by performing funeral …

Repealed Repealed.

(a) The Mayor may establish, by rule, a fee schedule for all services related to the regulation of the practice of funeral directing. The fees shall be reasonably related to the cost of administering the licensing, certification, or registration, including the cost of testing, pr…

Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an applicant for licensure as a funeral director shall furnish satisfactory proof to the Mayor that he or she: (1) Is at least 18 years of age; (2) Is a graduate of a high school or possesses the equivalent education …

(a) A license to practice in the District as either a funeral director or apprentice funeral director, or to operate a funeral services establishment shall be issued to each applicant who meets all of the requirements for licensure. (b) Every license in good standing issued in ac…

(a) In order to qualify for a funeral director’s license, an apprentice funeral director (“apprentice”) must serve an apprenticeship under the supervision of a funeral director licensed by the District. (b) Notwithstanding the requirement of subsection (a) of this section, an app…

(a) The Mayor may refuse to approve or issue a renewal of a license, or may order restrictions, impose a fine, impose conditions on the practice of funeral directing, or suspend or revoke the license of any applicant or licensee if the Mayor finds that the applicant or licensee h…

When a written complaint alleging a violation under this chapter has been filed with the Mayor, the Mayor shall initiate an investigation and, if warranted, fix a time and place for a hearing pursuant to § 2-509. The Mayor shall cause a certified copy of the charges to be served …

Any person aggrieved by any final decision or order of the Mayor denying, suspending, or revoking any license or renewal of a license issued or applied for under this chapter may obtain a review of the decision pursuant to § 2-510.

(a) No person shall engage in the practice of funeral directing in the District of Columbia without being licensed in accordance with this chapter. (b) No funeral services establishment licensee shall engage in, or permit any employee or agent to engage in, the practice of funera…

The funeral services establishment retained by the person authorized pursuant to § 3-413 shall be entitled to take possession of human remains. In the event that 2 or more establishments differ as to their legal right to take possession of human remains, they shall refer the matt…

(a) Unless other directions have been given by the decedent, the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person, the location and conditions of interment, and arrangements for funeral goods and services shall vest in the following in the order of priority na…

Disputes concerning the rights to the control or the disposition of the remains of a deceased person shall be resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction. In resolving a dispute, the court shall consider the following factors: (1) The reasonableness, practicality, and resources…

The handling, preparation, or embalming of human remains which carried infectious or contagious diseases must at all times be done by a licensed funeral director, or in the case of an apprentice funeral director, under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director.

The Mayor shall issue rules and regulations pursuant to § 3-403(i) [repealed] which shall prescribe the terms and conditions under which the District may grant courtesy cards to funeral directors duly licensed in the State of Maryland or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Courtesy car…

(a) Any person holding a funeral director’s license or an apprentice funeral director’s license shall, within 5 days after any change of business or residence address, notify the Mayor in writing of the change. (b) Any person holding a funeral services establishment license shall…

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or rules or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $300 or more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Each act of unlawful …

(a) Prosecution for violation of any provision of this chapter shall be conducted in the name of the District of Columbia in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Corporation Counsel or his or her assistant. (b) In order to constitute a violation under this chapte…

Whenever the Mayor finds that any person has engaged in, or is about to engage in, the unlawful practice of funeral directing or apprentice funeral directing, the unlawful operation of a funeral services establishment, or any act which constitutes or will constitute a violation o…

The Mayor may promulgate rules consistent with this chapter.

An apprentice funeral director shall not perform the following services unless he or she is under the immediate supervision of a licensed funeral director: (1) The handling, preparation, or embalming of human remains; (2) The removal or transport of human remains; (3) Conducting …