_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws related to mortuary science licensing; REVISING INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE REQUIRED FOR the PRACTICE OF MORTUARY SCIENCE; AMENDING SECTIONS 37-19-302 AND 37-19-304, MCA; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 37-19-302, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-19-302. License required for practice of mortuary science -- qualifications of applicants. (1) The practice of mortuary science is limited to:

(a)        licensed morticians;

(b)        licensed interns; and

(c)        students exempted under 37-19-308.

(2)        A person 18 years of age or older wishing to practice mortuary science in this state must shall apply to the board on the form and in the manner prescribed by the board.

(3)        To qualify for a mortician's license, a person must:

(a)        be of good moral character;

(b)        have graduated from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in mortuary science;

(c)        pass an examination prescribed by the board and pay the application fee set by the board by rule; and

(d)        serve a 1-year internship under the supervision of a licensed mortician in a licensed mortuary. The internship may be served prior to or after passing the examination provided for in subsection (3)(c).

(4)        A person who fails the examination required in subsection (3)(c) may retake the examination under conditions prescribed by rule of the board."

Section 2. Section 37-19-304, MCA, is amended to read:

"37-19-304. Issuance of intern's license -- license fee -- issuance of mortician's license on completion of internship. An applicant who passes the examination provided for in 37-19-302 shall, upon payment of a license fee prescribed by the board, be granted an intern mortician's license to practice mortuary science under the supervision of a licensed mortician in a licensed mortuary in Montana and, upon completion of 1 year's internship and payment of the license fee, may apply for and receive a mortician's license."

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.