After the discovery of nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a Colorado funeral home in October, lawmakers saw the need to tighten state oversight of funeral homes and on Monday passed a bill that — combined with a second bill passed last week — would help regulate the industry.
A series of cases involving sold ashes and fake body parts has devastated hundreds of already grieving families and cast a harsh light on state funeral home regulations, some of the weakest in the nation. The bill passed Monday will head to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk after the House considered a minor change from the Senate.
The legislation would give regulators greater enforcement powers over funeral homes and require routine inspections of facilities, including after shutters are closed. The second bill, now headed to the governors’ desk, would require funeral directors and other roles in the industry to be licensed. These qualifications will include background checks, degrees in mortuary science, passing a national exam and work experience.
The legislation arrived after the 190 decomposing bodies were found in a bug-infested funeral home facility about two hours south of Denver. Many families were left wondering if the cremated remains they received were actually their child or parent. Some have learned that they are not.
Instead, some bodies languished in a building, some for four years. The owners were arrested and face hundreds of charges, including abuse of a corpse.
Another funeral home in Colorado discovered a body in February that had been left in the back of a hearse for more than a year.
Funeral directors do not have to graduate from high school, and regulators are not required to conduct routine inspections, as is the case in many other states. These bills would be a dramatic update, and the funeral home industry as a whole is on board.
“We as Colorado can no longer be a laughing stock as the only unlicensed funeral home state,” said Joe Walsh, president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association.
Walsh said the majority of funeral directors want licensing requirements, and that while the new rules may be unpleasant at times, they are a good step in bringing Colorado in line with the rest of the country.
