Lorrie Arterburn

The meeting agenda included several informational items and one claim recommendation for the Preneed Consumer Protection Trust Fund (CPTF). Key discussions involved the informational review of clean applications for Interns, Preneed Sales Agents, Embalmer Apprentices, and applicants who passed the Florida Laws and Rules Exam. Furthermore, the Board reviewed a claim against the CPTF, recommending approval of $795.00 for claimant Donna Sebastian related to a default by ICS Cremation Society, Inc. The Board also reviewed Continuing Education course applications for approval, which the CE Committee recommended be approved for credit.

The agenda for the meeting scheduled for March 5, 2026, included preliminary remarks and roll call, followed by disciplinary proceedings involving multiple motions for determination and settlement stipulations for various entities and individuals, including Chestnut Funeral Home, Inc., Aable Development, Inc., and others. The agenda also addressed applications for Preneed Sales Agent, Continuing Education course approvals, Consumer Protection Trust Fund Claims, and various license applications for Embalmer Apprentice, Florida Laws and Rules Examination categories, and Internship requests (including renewals with and without conditions). Furthermore, the Board considered applications for Funeral Establishment, Preneed Main, and Removal Service, all recommended for approval with conditions. Other items included approval of a Preconstruction Performance Bond and a Request for Transfer of Trust, as well as conditional approvals for Monument Establishment Retailer and Monument Sales Agreement. Reports from the Executive Director, Chair, and Office of Attorney General were also listed.

The meeting addressed several committee and disciplinary matters. The Rules Committee portion involved the adoption of minutes from October 20, 2025, and subsequent Board action on the Committee's review results regarding twelve (12) Board Rules. Specifically, the Board approved the review results for rule 69K-5.001 and approved development for eleven (11) other rules, including three recommended for repeal, concluding with approval of the Committee's report in its entirety. In Disciplinary Proceedings, the Board considered motions for final orders based on hearings not involving disputed material facts for two cases: Archer Funeral Home LLC and John Garrett Milton, both stemming from the same underlying investigation involving an unlicensed employee engaging in funeral directing, failure to provide documentation (contracts, price lists), and improper handling of cremation authorization and embalming permission. For Archer Funeral Home LLC, the Board adopted the facts and imposed a penalty of a $2,500 fine and six (6) months of probation, accepting a reduced penalty from the Department's initial $5,000 recommendation. For John Garrett Milton, in his capacity as funeral director in charge, the Board adopted the facts and imposed an identical penalty of a $2,500 fine and six (6) months of probation. Finally, the Board began considering a case against All Points Removal Service concerning relocation notification failure, lack of required equipment maintenance, and failure to maintain communicable disease training records.

The agenda for this session included preliminary remarks and roll call, followed by action on the minutes from the December 4, 2025 meeting. A substantial portion of the meeting addressed disciplinary proceedings, involving departmental motions for dismissal without prejudice, motions for final orders based on waiver or informal hearing regarding undisputed facts, and settlement stipulations across various case numbers and probable cause panels. The Board also reviewed applications for Preneed Sales Agents, including one recommendation for denial due to criminal history. Furthermore, applications for continuing education courses and providers were reviewed, with several recommended for approval without conditions. Other items included review of Consumer Protection Trust Fund Claims, informational items regarding licenses issued for Embalmer Apprentice and Florida Laws and Rules Examination candidates, and informational items concerning license applications for Internship. The Board also addressed applications for Funeral Establishment, Preneed Main, and Removal Service licenses, some with conditions attached. The session concluded with the Executive Director's Report, the Chair's Report, the Office of Attorney General's Report, Public Comments, and an Administrative Report detailing application statuses and disciplinary actions since the last meeting.

The Rules Committee meeting focused on the revisit of twelve Board Rules contained in Chapter 69K, Florida Administrative Code, as part of the process mandated by Senate Bill 108. Key discussions included proposed changes to Rule 69K-33.001 regarding the handling and storage of human remains, specifically concerning body coverage, containment (rigid container vs. body bag), and stacking, as well as the statutory 40° Fahrenheit temperature requirement. For Rule 69K-2.003, the committee moved to eliminate subparagraph (5) regarding Board member activity in grading, proctoring, and reviewing examinations, as this activity is no longer relevant. Rules 69K-6.001 and 69K-6.0015 were recommended for repeal because they reiterated existing law. Rule 69K-6.0016 concerning Developed Area required changes to align language and reference the relevant statute (s. 497.274). Rule 69K-6.004 regarding Safekeeping of Records was opened for changes to modernize recordkeeping to include electronic storage methods, though challenges in defining future-proof terms like 'offsite' and 'routinely' were noted. Rule 69K-6.002 was opened for repeal as its requirements are deemed incorporated into law.