New York A 5172: Authorizes funeral directing apprenticeships as an alternative to licensing examinations

Bill Text

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A05172 Summary:

BILL NOA05172 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORButtenschon

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §3422-a, amd §§3421 & 3423, Pub Health L

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Authorizes funeral directing apprenticeships as an alternative to licensing examinations; requires such apprenticeships to be one- to four-year programs led by licensing funeral directors; makes related provisions.

Go to top A05172 Actions:

BILL NOA05172 

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02/12/2025referred to health

01/07/2026referred to health

Go to topA05172 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA05172 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA05172 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5172

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 12, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. BUTTENSCHON -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Health

 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to authorizing funer-
 al directing apprenticeships as an alternative to licensing examina-
 tions

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
 2 3422-a to read as follows:
 3 § 3422-a. Funeral directing; apprenticeship. 1. The department shall
 4 develop criteria for funeral director apprenticeships for individuals
 5 who have successfully completed a course of collegiate level study in
 6 funeral service. Such apprenticeship shall serve as an alternative to
 7 the examinations required for licensure as a funeral director under
 8 section thirty-four hundred twenty-one of this title. To satisfy the
 9 requirements of paragraph (b) of subdivision four of section thirty-four
 10 hundred twenty-one of this title, a funeral director apprenticeship
 11 shall be certified by the department.
 12 2. A funeral director apprenticeship certified under subdivision one
 13 of this section shall:
 14 (a) consist of a one- to four-year apprenticeship, including a one-
 15 year residency as required under subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (b) of
 16 subdivision four of section thirty-four hundred twenty-one of this
 17 title;
 18 (b) be led by a licensed funeral director; and
 19 (c) include specialized curriculum models that align with the content
 20 and requirements of the examination for licensure under this title,
 21 which shall cover topics including, but not limited to, embalming tech-
 22 niques, funeral arrangement procedures, regulatory compliance, ethics,
 23 industry best practices, and any other topics as determined by the
 24 department.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD09189-01-5

 A. 5172 2

 1 3. The department shall develop a process under which apprenticeships
 2 may be certified under subdivision one of this section, and under which
 3 individuals may apply for such apprenticeships. Applicants accepted to
 4 an apprenticeship shall be issued a certificate of registration which
 5 shall be posted in some conspicuous place in the place of business where
 6 such apprenticeship will be conducted.
 7 4. An individual who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship
 8 under this section shall be issued a certificate of completion of such
 9 apprenticeship. Such certificate of completion shall qualify an individ-
 10 ual to be licensed as a funeral director under section thirty-four
 11 hundred twenty-one of this title, and as an undertaker and embalmer
 12 under section thirty-four hundred twenty-three of this title.
 13 § 2. Subdivisions 1, 2 and 4 of section 3421 of the public health law,
 14 as amended by chapter 534 of the laws of 1983, paragraph (a) of subdivi-
 15 sion 2 as amended by chapter 669 of the laws of 2022 and paragraph (c)
 16 of subdivision 2 and paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 as amended by chap-
 17 ter 529 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as follows:
 18 1. In order to be licensed, an applicant for licensure shall pass a
 19 funeral directing examination prepared or approved by the department, or
 20 an apprenticeship approved by the department, to determine [his] such
 21 applicant's knowledge and fitness therefor, as required by this article.
 22 No per