6/24/2025

RULES COMMITTEE MEETING

A two-day public meeting of the Rules Committee of the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services will be held in-person on July 9, 2025 – July 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. on both days. All persons are invited. The meeting will take place at the Florida Department of Financial Services, Claude Denson Pepper Building, Room G-01, 111 West Madison Street in Tallahassee, FL. A copy of the agenda will be made available seven (7) days before the meeting on the division's website.  A copy may also be obtained at that time by contacting LaTonya Bryant, at LaTonya.Bryant@myfloridacfo.com. 

6/12/2025

UPDATED 2025 INFORMATION REGARDING PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS

The following information is provided in preparation for hurricanes and tropical storms.  As often happens with these storms, many Florida counties will be impacted with wind, flood, and/or power outage issues.  In anticipation of inclement weather resulting from these storms, we want to remind our licensees of the following. 

1. Hurricane preparation and aftermath information

State, county, and city governments provide a lot of information on preparing for natural disasters, including hurricanes.  One great resource is found at the Department of Financial Services’ website at:  https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/storm/.  You may also wish to visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/ for more information regarding general hurricane preparedness, including emergency planning for businesses at https://www.floridadisaster.org/business/planning-for-businesses/.  These sites also provide helpful information on filing claims and other issues that may arise after a storm.

2. Power outages/storm damage

If you have a refrigeration unit, PLEASE PLAN AHEAD for possible power outage or other issues that might affect your ability to continue to provide refrigeration services.  Consider obtaining a generator to provide power to your refrigeration unit/facility during power outages.  If you have a generator, always check to make sure it is operational before any storm. 

In the event that your facility or unit is damaged or otherwise inoperable due to a hurricane or other natural disaster, please also consider the following options:

• Contact another local funeral establishment (or other licensed establishment that has a refrigeration unit) to see if it might have space available to assist with your refrigeration needs; or
• Contact your local county emergency management.  Your county emergency management will coordinate with the state’s emergency management team or others as may be necessary to assist you.  Contact information for the Emergency Management team in each county is found at:  https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/counties/.

3. E-filing of Death Certificate Notices

The Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) is not expected to be impacted by any storms.  We recognize, however, that your accessibility to the system may be limited due to power outages in your own areas.  You should print several blank copies of death certificate forms (DH512), fetal death forms (DH428), and burial transit permits (DH326) in preparation for possible power outages and downtime. The Bureau of Vital Statistics Helpdesk (1-866-295-5902) has advised that it is available: M - F 8am - 6pm, and Sat 9am - 2pm ET. Their Quality Assurance unit is also available at 904-359-6900 ext. 9020 and you may reach Ken Jones, State Registrar, at 904-359-6900 ext. 1001.

4. Hurricane Follow-up

Following a hurricane, Division staff will call the licensed establishments in the impacted areas to obtain information on any power outage issues, building damage, etc., and determine if there are any needs with which we can assist.  If your establishment has refrigeration/storage space available at that time, please let our staff know so that we can share that information with other licensees in the area which may need that type of assistance.

5. Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services’ Offices

Updated 4-10-2025

BOARD OF FUNERAL, CEMETERY AND CONSUMER SERVICES