Para crear la “Ley de la Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Mortuoria de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de reglamentar e impartirle eficiencia a las normas aplicables a quienes practiquen la profesión del embalsamamiento; establecer un ente rector que disponga cuáles serán los requisitos para que los embalsamadores licenciados desempeñen dicha profesión, el cual tendrá el poder de expedir, denegar y revocar licencias y adoptar regulaciones de carácter ético para su ejercicio, así como de fijar multas y penalidades administrativas e instar acciones disciplinarias; tipificar el delito de ejercicio ilegal de embalsamamiento y fijar la pena de multa y/o cárcel por su comisión; derogar la Ley Núm. 6 de 9 de marzo de 1967, según enmendada, conocida comúnmente como “Ley de la Junta Examinadora de Embalsamadores de Puerto Rico”; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico replaces its 1967 embalming licensing law with a new regulatory board empowered to license professionals, establish ethical standards, impose penalties, and criminalize unlicensed practice.

Retirada por su Autor

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 1150 creates the "Mortuary Licensing and Discipline Board of Puerto Rico" to regulate embalming professionals and replace the existing 1967 licensing law. The new board would issue, deny, and revoke licenses; establish ethical standards; impose administrative penalties; and criminalize illegal embalming practice with fines and imprisonment.

Why is this important

This modernizes professional oversight of the embalming industry after nearly 60 years under outdated regulations. It creates clearer disciplinary mechanisms and legal consequences for unlicensed practice, which affects consumer protection in funeral services and ensures practitioners meet current professional standards.

Potential points of contention

Scope of criminal penalties: Creating a new criminal offense for unlicensed embalming may raise questions about proportionality and enforcement priorities compared to other regulatory violations

Board composition and independence: The bill's details on board member appointment, qualifications, and potential conflicts of interest are unclear from the summary language

Transitional provisions: How the law handles currently-licensed professionals under the old 1967 framework and whether grandfathering provisions exist remains unspecified