Chapter 2: Texas Mortuary and Crematory Law Update, 2nd Edition (Mandatory) 2 CE Hours
Learning objectives After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Describe the primary responsibilities of the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Explain the requirements needed to renew a license, that is, continuing education, fees, criminal convictions, and so on. Course overview The Texas Mortuary and Crematory Law Update course provides a review of regulations governing the funeral service and death care industry in Texas. The course covers updates to statutes and rules in the Texas Occupations Code, Health and Safety Code, and Administrative Code related to licensing, inspections, continuing education requirements, and ethical standards for funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral establishments. Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact health outcomes. Addressing
Review any new legislative changes, including amendments and additions to the Texas Occupations and Health and Safety Codes that went into effect in 2023. Summarize the process of an investigation and investigative report when a violation has occurred. Discuss inspection procedures and regulations as provided for in Occupations Code, Chapter 651. Key topics include the Texas Funeral Service Commission's responsibilities, license renewal procedures, new legislative changes, complaint investigation processes, and required documentation for embalming services. The course is intended to keep Texas funeral professionals informed on current laws and regulations that impact their licensure and professional responsibilities when serving clients. implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
The TFSC is made up of seven commissioners appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Two members must be licensed as both an embalmer and a funeral director for at least five years preceding appointment, one member must be a crematory owner or operator, and four members must represent the public. The public members may not be regulated under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 651, and must consistently show an interest in supporting consumer protection. Members serve six-year terms (TFSC, n.d.b). The TFSC operates with three functional divisions: ● Administration. ● Licensing. ● Compliance. Authorizing statutes for the TFSC are located within the Texas Occupations Code, Subtitle L, Chapter 651, Cemetery and Crematory Services, Funeral Directing, and Embalming, and are known as “Mortuary Law.” Additionally, the laws governing the death care industry are found in: ● Various chapters of the Texas Health and Safety Code (TFSC, n.d.c). ● Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 22, Part 10 (State of Texas, Office of the Secretary of State, n.d.). Texas Crematory Law can be found in the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 716 (TFSC, n.d.c).
In 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, 203,099 Texas residents died (Texas Department of State Health Services, n.d.) and required the death care industry’s services. As the oldest baby boomers approach age 80, a need will arise for more funeral professionals to assist families in need. To protect Texans from fraud and deception at a vulnerable time, the state continues to update legislation to reflect the current situations and ethical practices. The Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) is the state agency authorized by state law to regulate the death care industry in Texas. This commission, according to its 2021–2025 Strategic Plan (TFSC, 2020), “strives to be responsible, ethical, and open in its actions.” To ensure that funeral professionals within the state of Texas are qualified individuals, the TFSC has initiated operational goals. These operational goals include (TFSC, 2020): ● Managing a program of examination and licensure that ensures the development of competent funeral professionals with high standards of ethical conduct. ● Enforcing standards “aggressively and effectively.” Furthermore, the mission of the TFSC is to “protect the public from deceptive practices in the funeral and death care industry through a process of impartial enforcement, inspection, licensing and education in order to guarantee every citizen’s final disposition is conducted professionally and ethically” (TFSC, n.d.a).
Book Code: FTX1624
Page 9
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
Powered by FlippingBook