SECTION 203.33. Required Documentation for Embalming

(a) If permission to embalm is oral, the funeral establishment must maintain for two years written documentation of the name of the person authorizing embalming, that person's relationship to the deceased, and the time permission was obtained.

(b) When oral or written permission to embalm cannot be obtained from the person authorized to make funeral arrangements, the funeral establishment must maintain for two years written documentation of the efforts taken as mandated by Occupations Code §651.457 to obtain permission to embalm.

(c) In cases where a Medical Examiner or Justice of the Peace has given permission to a funeral establishment to take custody of a body, the receiving funeral establishment may not embalm the body until the person responsible for making arrangements for final disposition has given permission. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as allowing a funeral establishment to initiate contact with the person authorized to make funeral arrangements.

(d) Authorization to Embalm Form.

(1) If embalming is performed, the Commission promulgated Authorization to Embalm Form must be signed by a family member or the person responsible for making arrangements for final disposition when written authorization is secured.

(2) The Commission's Authorization to Embalm Form may not be altered and must be used in its adopted form. A copy of this form may be obtained from the Commission and may be reproduced by a licensed funeral establishment.

(e) If a mortuary student who is not a provisional licensee is to assist the licensed embalmer, the authorization pursuant to Occupations Code §651.407 must be in the possession of the funeral establishment and/or embalmer at the time of the embalming. A copy of the mortuary student authorization shall be retained according to Occupations Code §651.407.

(f) Nothing in this rule diminishes the requirement of the establishment to abide by the Federal Trade Commission funeral rule regarding embalming disclosures. In the event of a conflict between this rule and the Federal Trade Commission funeral rule, the Federal Trade Commission funeral rule prevails.

Source Note: The provisions of this §203.33 adopted to be effective October 18, 2015, 40 TexReg 7069; amended to be effective October 3, 2019, 44 TexReg 5625