New bill to increase cost of cremation in Arizona
USA – Arizona funeral homes say the cost of cremation could soon spike because of a bill making its way through
the state Legislature.
Gov Doug Ducey is throwing his weight behind House Bill 2613, which is designed to ease regulatory requirements on a number of industries. If passed, fruit pickers, yoga instructors, driving-school teachers, landscape architects and others would not need state licenses to operate.
But the bill actually raises the regulatory burden on funeral homes, according to an analysis by a Wake Forest law professor. The bill would eliminate licenses for cremationists and make funeral directors the only people qualified to run cremation machinery.
“If I have to have a funeral director sitting there, it’s going to at least double my salary cost for that position. At least,” said John Perkes, owner of Regency Mortuary in Sun City.
Like auto mechanics, cremationists are hands-on workers with highly-technical skills, said Spencer McBride of Cremation Center of Arizona. Funeral directors, on the other hand, are “white collar” administrators with years of schooling, he said.
“I don’t think the training we get in funeral school is going to equal what they get in the cremationist training,” Perkes, a licensed funeral director, said. “I got very little cremation training when I went to mortuary college.”
But the process of becoming a funeral director in Arizona takes years. Applicants must graduate from a two-year mortuary school program, complete a one-year internship, pass multiple examinations, work as a licensed embalmer for at least one year and assist in arranging and directing at least 25 funerals.
“I think you’re going to see a jump in the prices of cremation,” Perkes said. “If I have to pay somebody double what I’m effectively paying a cremationist, I’ve got to account for that somewhere.”
McBride estimated the cost of cremation would triple. A quick online comparison shows low-cost cremations in the Valley start around $600. Cremations with a service can start around $1,300.
Ducey’s office did not immediately return a request for comment. Neither did a spokesperson for Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, who introduced the legislation.
The bill advanced through the House Rules Committee on Monday and has received “do pass” recommendations from both the House Majority and Minority caucuses.
Gov. Doug Ducey is throwing his weight behind House Bill 2613, which is designed to ease regulatory requirements on a number of industries. If passed, fruit pickers, yoga instructors, driving-school teachers, landscape architects and others would not need state licenses to operate.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.