State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors public meetings in 2023
10 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The board will discuss regulatory matters including refrigeration installation in crematories and a petition to annul a decision regarding Evans Ussin. The meeting includes a review of the FY 22.23 financial report and updates on complaints.
- Petition to annul board decision in the Matter re Evans Ussin
- Admission and Consent re In the Matter of Alexandria Leger
- Discussion on refrigeration installation in crematories
- Financial report for FY 22.23
- Resolution for John William Pierce
The Board reversed a previous decision to allow stand-alone crematories to install refrigeration units. It also issued a disciplinary ruling against a former crematory retort operator and denied a petition to annul a judgment.
- Approved allowing stand-alone crematories to install refrigeration units (Unanimous)
- Fined Alexandria Leger $1,000 (suspended) and barred license renewal for two years (7-0)
- Ordered Alexandria Leger to pay $1,470 in attorney fees
- Denied Petition to Annul Judgement for Evans A. Ussin (Unanimous)
- Approved five-year lease renewal for current office with reduced rent
- Accepted Executive Director's report and retirement notice (Unanimous)
- Accepted Inspector's report (Unanimous)
- Accepted August 9, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors will meet on August 8, 2023, to consider resolutions for licensees Jerry G. Villemarette, Richard N. Romain, and Constance M. Selico, and to vote on an ADA policy implementation. The board will also hear reports from the executive director and inspector, review minutes, discuss complaints, and hold an executive session on board/staff matters.
- Resolution for Jerry G. Villemarette (U-1220)
- Resolution for Richard N. Romain (U-1223)
- Resolution for Constance M. Selico (U-1122)
- Resolution for ADA policy implementation
- Update on Laws & Rules Committee meeting from June 14, 2023
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Board approved a new virtual conferencing policy in accordance with Act 393 of 2023. Members declined proposed cost-saving measures regarding meeting schedules and office relocation. The Board also accepted the inspector's and financial reports.
- Approved Virtual Media/Video Conference Policy (6-0)
- Declined cost-saving proposals for meeting schedules and office relocation
- Approved inspector's report and 287 total yearly inspections
- Approved financial report showing $160,568.47 in operating funds
- Accepted complaint report: 3 dismissed, 1 for formal hearing, 1 for further discovery
- Approved revisions to inspection reports
- Approved minutes from June 13, 2023 meeting
- Passed resolutions of sympathy for Jerry G. Villemarette, Richard N. Romain, and Constance M. Selico
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Board will review legislative bills, an Attorney General opinion regarding coroner fees, and a request to add an embalming room to a crematory. The meeting also includes proposals to change the meeting schedule to quarterly and move the office location to reduce lease costs.
- Review of legislative bills SB 187, HB 248 (ACT 20), SB 201, and HB 577
- AG Opinion 23-0040 regarding coroner fees and permits
- Nicholas Barber’s request to add an embalming room to a crematory
- Proposal for meeting schedule change to quarterly
- Proposal for office location change to reduce lease costs
The Board declined proposals to move the office to Covington and shift to quarterly meetings. It also determined that stand-alone preparation rooms for embalming and refrigeration in stand-alone crematories are not permitted. Several administrative reports and previous motions regarding the Executive Director were ratified.
- Declined proposals for quarterly meetings and office relocation (unanimous)
- Determined stand-alone prep-rooms for embalming and refrigeration in stand-alone crematories are not permitted
- Ratified March 7, 2023 motion supporting Executive Director Michel's office management (unanimous)
- Ratified April 7, 2023 motion expressing confidence in Executive Director Michel (unanimous)
- Accepted inspector's report detailing 43 recent inspections (unanimous)
- Accepted financial report showing $276,809.40 in non-operating and $220,405.30 in operating funds (unanimous)
- Accepted complaint report: 10 dismissed, 1 scheduled for hearing, 2 deferred, 3 in process (unanimous)
- Approved May 9, 2023 meeting minutes (unanimous)
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Board will review legislative bills from the 2023 Regular Session including SB 187, HB 248, SB 201, and HB 577. The agenda also includes updates on complaints, financial reports, and inspector reports.
- Review of legislative bills SB 187, HB 248, SB 201, and HB 577
- Approval of April 2023 meeting minutes
- Financial report on budget P&L and projected FY 22.23
- Complaint Review Committee updates and recommendations
- Inspector's report from R. Demale Bowden, Jr.
The Board unanimously accepted the license and registry update, the inspector's report, and the financial reports. The Executive Director implemented a 5% salary increase for the inspector and proposed further staff raises for FY 23/24. The Board is currently researching new office lease options to reduce expenses before the current lease expires in February 2024.
- Approved license and registry updates for funeral establishments, crematories, and directors (Unanimous)
- Accepted inspector's report detailing 45 inspections and common compliance issues (Unanimous)
- Approved April 4, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted financial report and FY 23/24 budget projections (Unanimous)
- Accepted Complaint Review Committee report regarding 10 complaints (Unanimous)
- Accepted Laws and Rules Committee report and minutes (Unanimous)
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Laws and Rules Committee will continue its examination of current regulations and proposed changes. The meeting also includes a review of minutes from the March 8, 2023, meeting.
- Continued examination of current regulations and proposed changes
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors will hold a regular meeting to review financial reports, inspection findings, and proposed regulatory changes. The board will also consider a resolution honoring deceased licensee Wesley John Syrie and discuss updates from the Laws & Rules Committee. No major policy decisions are expected; the agenda is largely procedural.
- Resolution honoring Wesley John Syrie, owner of Syrie Funeral Home in Lafayette, who died March 30, 2023
- Financial report shows total funds of $552,948.66 and net income of $34,639.78 for FY 2022-23
- Inspection report: 46 inspections conducted, with 17 repeat issues found at funeral homes and crematories
- Renewal deadline for crematory and retort operator licenses ends May 15, 2023
- Update on Laws & Rules Committee meeting discussing changes to Title 46 regulations, including inspection and licensing rules
The Board unanimously agreed to begin seeking a replacement for Executive Director Kim W. Michel and to consider expanding office staff to three personnel. The Board also accepted reports on financial standing, facility inspections, and professional licensing updates.
- Approved plan to find replacement for Executive Director and restructure office (unanimous)
- Passed expression of confidence in Executive Director Kim W. Michel (unanimous)
- Approved license and registry update report (unanimous)
- Accepted inspector's report on 46 facility inspections (unanimous)
- Approved March 7, 2023 meeting minutes with name corrections (unanimous)
- Accepted financial report and FY 22/23 budget projections (unanimous)
- Accepted Complaint Review Committee report on 11 complaints (unanimous)
- Passed resolution of sympathy for the late Wesley John Syrie
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Board will review financial reports, inspection summaries, and recent license updates. The meeting includes a formal declaration honoring funeral director Lafaye C. Jackson for 71 years of service.
- Review of October 2022 through January 2023 meeting minutes
- Financial report including $566,965.77 in total bank balances
- Update on 99 inspections completed since the last meeting
- Declaration of honor for Lafaye C. Jackson (U-650)
- Review of new funeral establishment and crematory licenses
The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors approved the executive director's report, inspector's report, and financial statements. The board also accepted a complaint review report and approved minutes from four previous meetings.
- Approved Executive Director's report including new license issues (unanimous)
- Approved Inspector's report detailing 99 total inspections (unanimous)
- Approved October, November, December 2022 and January 2023 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved financial report and budget projections showing total funds of $566,965.77 (unanimous)
- Approved Complaint Review Committee report: 1 complaint for informal hearing, 9 for no apparent violation (unanimous)
- Approved support for Executive Director Ms. Michel's office management decisions (roll call vote)
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Laws and Rules Committee will discuss current regulations and proposed changes. The meeting includes an outline of the rule promulgation process and time frame.
- Discussion of current regulations and proposed changes
- Outline of rule promulgation process and approximate time frame
- Introduction of LFDMA and LFDA representatives
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The Board will review inspection reports, financial budget updates, and consumer complaint reviews. The meeting also includes the nomination and election of officers for the 2023 calendar year.
- Inspection report summary
- Financial report including budget P&L and projected FY 22.23
- Review of complaints by CRC
- Nomination and election of 2023 officers
The Board approved a resolution granting the Executive Director authority over day-to-day personnel, employment, and staffing decisions. The Board also elected a new slate of officers and accepted several administrative and inspection reports.
- Approved resolution delegating personnel and staffing authority to the Executive Director (Unanimous)
- Elected Willie P. Davis, Jr. as President (Unanimous)
- Elected Terry Luneau as Vice President (Unanimous)
- Elected Mr. Dixon as Secretary (Unanimous)
- Elected Gregory McKneely as Treasurer (Unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director's report on license renewals (Unanimous)
- Accepted two inspector reports covering 87 total inspections (Unanimous)
- Accepted financial report showing total funds of $595,923.66 (Unanimous)