,i  #aad? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ebab  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,may #ab1 #bjaf ,mr4  
,ru% introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &      
,comm]ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct ! ,f$]al
 ,trade ,commission to e/abli% rules to 
prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or    
practices relat$ to ! provision ( fun]al
 goods or fun]al s]vices4  #a4 ,%ort    
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,b]eav$ 
,consum]'s ,bill ( ,rights ,act ( #bjaf4
  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t--  7#a7   
!re h be5 %ock+ consum] abuses 9 !      
fun]al indu/ry1 includ+ sc&als at ,burr 
,oak ,cemet]y 9 ,alsip1 ,ill9ois1       
,m5orah ,g>d5s ,cemet]y 9 ,palm ,bea*1  
,florida1 & ! ,tri ,/ate ,crematory 9   
,noble1 ,georgia2  7#b7 fun]al          
arrangem5ts are a major exp5se = mo/    
,am]ican h\seholds & families2  7#c7 "s 
consum]s seek to ease ! burd5s on _!    
families by arrang+ & pay+ = pr5e$      
fun]al & cemet]y arrangem5ts2  7#d7 mo/ 
fun]als are plann$ by griev+ family     

memb]s at a "t :5 !y are especially     
vuln]able & unlikely to focus on co/    
comp>ison2  7#e7 ! ,f$]al ,trade        
,commission's ,fun]al ,indu/ry          
,practices ,trade ,regulation ,rule     
7kn[n z ! ,fun]al ,rule7 dictates       
consum] protections 9 ! fun]al home1 b  
does n cov] ! practices ( cemet]ies1    
crematoria1 or sell]s ( monum5ts1 urns1 
or caskets2  7#f7 ,/ate laws are        
inconsi/5t & frequ5tly too weak to      
provide adequate consum] protections1   
creat+ a ne$ = m9imum ,f$]al /&>ds 9 ?is
 area2  7#g7 consum]s h ! "r to receive 
cle> & accurate in=mation ab\t all      
fun]al goods & fun]al s]vices (f]$ =    
sale2  7#h7 consum]s ne$ effective      
protection f fraud & abusive practices  
by all provid]s ( fun]al goods & fun]al 
s]vices & at all /ages ( ! fun]al plann+
 process2 &  7#i7 a new ,f$]al law t    
provides adequate protections to griev+ 
families is w>rant$4  #c4 ,,ftc rulemak+
 relat+ to unfair or deceptive acts or  
practices 9 ! provision ( fun]al goods  

or fun]al s]vices  7a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,!     
,f$]al ,trade ,commission %all prescribe
 rules prohibit+ unfair or deceptive    
acts or practices 9 ! provision ( fun]al
 goods or fun]al s]vices4 ,su* rules    
%all include ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,a         
requirem5t t provid]s ( fun]al goods or 
fun]al s]vices furni% accurate price    
in=mation disclos+ cle>ly & conspicu\sly
 ! co/ to ! pur*as] = ea* ( ! specific  
fun]al goods or fun]al s]vices provid$  
or (f]$ = sale4  7#b7 ,a prohibition on 
misrepres5tations by su* provid]s1      
includ+ misrepres5tations ( !           
requirem5ts ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local   
law4  7#c7 ,a prohibition on condition+ 
! provision ( any fun]al good or fun]al 
s]vice ^u ! pur*ase ( any o!r fun]al    
good or fun]al s]vice f t provid]1      
except z requir$ by law4  7#d7 ,a       
requirem5t t any presale disclosures &  
contracts = fun]al s]vices or fun]al    
goods be writt5 cle>ly1 /at+ ! m]*&ise &
 s]vices t pur*as]s are buy+ & _!       
prices4  7#e7 ,9 ! case ( contracts =   

fun]al s]vices or fun]al goods t are    
prepaid 9 :ole or 9 "p1 a requirem5t =  
cle> & conspicu\s presale & contractual 
disclosure reg>d+ any p5alties incurr$  
if ! consum] decides to cancel or       
transf] ! contract to ano!r provid] (   
fun]al s]vices or fun]al goods4  7#f7 ,a
 requirem5t t contracts = fun]al s]vices
 or fun]al goods disclose cle>ly &      
conspicu\sly all fees & co/s to be      
incurr$ 9 ! future or at ! "t t ! fun]al
 s]vices or fun]al goods are provid$4   
7#g7 ,a requirem5t t cemet]ies provide  
to consum]s1 9 a timely mann]1 all      
writt5 rules & regulations ( ! cemet]y1 
& a cle> explanation 9 writ+ ( !        
int]m5t1 inurnm5t1 or entombm5t "r t has
 be5 pur*as$1 & any mat]ial t]ms &      
conditions ( t pur*ase1 includ+ any     
repur*ase option by ! cemet]y or resale 
rights available to ! consum]4  7#h7 ,a 
requirem5t t cemet]ies-- 7,a7 reta9 all 
records 9 exi/5ce on ! date ( enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 includ+ maps or o!r sy/ems   
indicat+ ! location & date ( ea*        

int]m5t1 inurnm5t1 or entombm5t2  7,b7  
accurately record & reta9 records ( all 
int]m5ts1 inurnm5ts1 or entombm5ts      
occurr+1 z well z any int]nm5t1         
inurnm5t1 or entombm5t rights sold1 aft]
 ! effective date ( ! regulations issu$ 
"u ?is subsection1 9 su* mann] & =m z ! 
,commission may prescribe 9 su*         
regulations2 &  7,c7 make su* records   
available to ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local     
gov]nm5ts1 z appropriate4  7b7 ,rulemak+
 ,! ,commission %all prescribe ! rules  
"u subsection 7a7 )9 #a ye> aft] ! date 
( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4 ,su* rules1 & any
 future rules or revision ( rules       
prescrib$ by ! ,commission prohibit+    
unfair or deceptive acts or practices 9 
! provision ( fun]al goods or fun]al    
s]vices1 %all be prescrib$ 9 accordance 
) section #eec ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code4  7c7 ,application ( ,rules to   
,tax-,exempt ,organizations & ,/ates    
,not)/&+ ! def9ition ( corporation 9    
section #d ( ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission
 ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dd71 ! rules      

prescrib$ "u subsection 7a71 & any      
future rules or revision ( rules        
prescrib$ by ! ,commission prohibit+    
unfair or deceptive acts or practices 9 
! provision ( fun]al goods or fun]al    
s]vices1 %all also apply to cemet]ies   
organiz$ or op]at$ by--  7#a7           
organizations describ$ 9 section        
#eja7;c7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code (   
#aihf t are exempt f taxation "u section
 #eja7;a7 ( su* ,code1 except =         
cemet]ies organiz$1 op]at$1 manag$1 &   
own$ by a religi\s d5om9ation1 middle   
judicatory1 h\se ( wor%ip1 or simil>    
religi\s organization1 & t are n        
organiz$1 op]at$1 manag$1 or own$ by    
contract or affiliation ) a =-pr(it     
provid] ( fun]al goods or fun]al s]vices
 t (f]s ^? goods or s]vices = sale to ! 
public2 or  7#b7 ,/ates or any political
 subdivision ( a ,/ate4  7d7 ,en=cem5t  
,any violation ( any rule prescrib$ "u  
?is section %all be treat$ z a violation
 ( a regulation prescrib$ "u section    
#ah7;a77#a77;,b7 ( ! ,f$]al ,trade      

,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4         
#eg;a7a77#a77;,b77 reg>d+ unfair or     
deceptive acts or practices4 ,! ,f$]al  
,trade ,commission %all en=ce ?is ,act 9
 ! same mann]1 by ! same means1 & ) !   
same jurisdiction z ?\gh all applicable 
t]ms & provisions ( ! ,f$]al ,trade     
,commission ,act 7 incorporat$ into &   
made a "p ( ?is ,act4 ,any p]son :o     
violates ! regulations prescrib$ "u ?is 
,act %all be subject to ! p5alties &    
entitl$ to ! privileges & immunities    
provid$ 9 t ,act4  #d4 ,en=cem5t by     
,/ates  7a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,:5ev] an attorney
 g5]al ( any ,/ate has reason to believe
 t ! int]e/s ( ! resid5ts ( t ,/ate h   
be5 or are be+ ?reat5$ or adv]sely      
affect$ because any p]son has engag$ or 
is engag+ 9 an act or practice :i*      
violates any rule ( ! ,commission issu$ 
"u section #c ( ?is ,act or ! ,trade    
,regulation ,rule on ,fun]al ,indu/ry   
,practices 7#af ,c4,f4,r4 #dec4a et     
seq471 ! ,/ate1 z p>5s patriae1 may br+ 
a civil action on behalf ( its resid5ts 

9 an appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates to enjo9 su* violative act or   
practice1 to en=ce compliance ) su* rule
 ( ! ,commission1 to obta9 damages1     
re/itution1 or o!r comp5sation on behalf
 ( resid5ts ( su* ,/ate1 or to obta9 su*
 fur!r & o!r relief z ! c\rt may det]m9e
 appropriate4  7b7 ,notice ,! ,/ate %all
 provide prior writt5 notice ( any civil
 action "u subsection 7a7 or 7f77#b7 to 
! ,commission & provide ! ,commission ) 
a copy ( its compla9t1 except t if x is 
n feasible = ! ,/ate to provide su*     
prior notice1 ! ,/ate %all provide su*  
notice imm$iately ^u in/itut+ su*       
action4 ,^u receiv+ a notice respect+ a 
civil action1 ! ,commission %all h !    
"r--  7#a7 to int]v5e 9 su* action2     
7#b7 ^u s int]v5+1 to be he>d on all    
matt]s aris+ !re92  7#c7 to remove !    
action to ! appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates   
di/rict c\rt2 &  7#d7 to file petitions 
= appeal4  7c7 ,con/ruction ,= purposes 
( br++ any civil action "u subsection   
7a71 no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all prev5t an     

attorney g5]al f ex]cis+ ! p[]s conf]r$ 
on ! attorney g5]al by ! laws ( su*     
,/ate to conduct inve/igations or to    
adm9i/] oa?s or affirmations or to      
compel ! att5dance ( witnesses or !     
production ( docum5t>y & o!r evid5ce4   
7d7 ,actions by ,commission ,:5ev] a    
civil action has be5 in/itut$ by or on  
behalf ( ! ,commission = violation ( any
 rule prescrib$ "u section #c ( ?is     
,act1 no ,/ate may1 dur+ ! p5d5cy ( su* 
action in/itut$ by or on behalf ( !     
,commission1 in/itute a civil action "u 
subsection 7a7 or 7f77#b7 ( ?is section 
aga9/ any def5dant nam$ 9 ! compla9t 9  
su* action = violation ( any rule z     
alleg$ 9 su* compla9t4  7e7 ,v5ue2      
,s]vice ( ,process ,any civil action    
br\ght "u subsection 7a7 ( ?is section 9
 a di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates may be
 br\ght 9 ! di/rict 9 :i* ! def5dant is 
f\nd1 is an inhabitant1 or transacts    
bus9ess or :]ev] v5ue is prop] "u       
section #acia ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code4 ,process 9 su* an action may be 

s]v$ 9 any di/rict 9 :i* ! def5dant is  
an inhabitant or 9 :i* ! def5dant may be
 f\nd4  7f7 ,actions by o!r ,/ate       
(ficials  7#a7 ,con/ruction ,no?+       
conta9$ 9 ?is section %all prohibit an  
au?oriz$ ,/ate (ficial f proce$+ 9 ,/ate
 c\rt on ! basis ( an alleg$ violation (
 any civil or crim9al /atute ( su*      
,/ate4  7#b7 ,o!r ,/ate actions ,9      
addition to actions br\ght by an        
attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate "u subsection  
7a7 ( ?is section1 su* an action may be 
br\ght by (fic]s ( su* ,/ate :o are     
au?oriz$ by ! ,/ate to br+ actions 9 su*
 ,/ate on behalf ( its resid5ts4  #e4   
,effect on o!r law ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act or !
 rules prescrib$ "u ?is ,act %all be    
con/ru$ to preempt any provision ( any  
law ( a ,/ate or political subdivision (
 t ,/ate t provides protections to      
consum]s ( fun]al s]vices or fun]al     
goods1 except to ! ext5t t ! provision (
 law is inconsi/5t ) any provision ( ?is
 ,act or a rule prescrib$ "u ?is ,act1 &
 !n only to ! ext5t ( ! inconsi/5cy4    

#f4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ! t]m
 cemet]y means any organization1        
association1 or o!r bus9ess t (f]s =    
sale ! int]m5t1 inurnm5t1 or entombm5t (
 human rema9s1 b does n include any     
cemet]y t--  7,a7 p]=ms few] ?an a total
 ( #be int]m5ts1 inurnm5ts1 & entombm5ts
 dur+ any cal5d> ye>2 or  7,b7 sells    
few] ?an a total ( #be int]m5t rights1  
inurnm5t rights1 & entombm5t rights dur+
 any cal5d> ye>2  7#b7 ! t]m fun]al     
goods means ! goods :i* are sold or (f]$
 = sale directly to ! public = use 9    
connection ) fun]al s]vices2 &  7#c7 !  
t]m fun]al s]vices means-- 7,a7 any     
s]vices :i* are sold or (f]$ = sale     
directly to ! public 9 ord] to--  7i7   
c>e = & prep>e deceas$ human bodies =   
burial1 cremation1 or o!r f9al          
disposition2 or  7ii7 arrange1 sup]vise1
 or conduct ! fun]al c]emony or ! f9al  
disposition ( deceas$ human bodies2 or  
7,b7 s]vices provid$ by fun]al          
directors1 morticians1 cemet]ians1      
cremationi/s1 & retail]s ( caskets1     

urns1 monum5ts1 & m>k]s4