Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services
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Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services HOME

Welcome to the Funeral and Mortuary Science Services Homepage

The Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services (Program) regulates funeral homes and crematories in the State of Colorado. Program activities include registration of funeral homes and crematories, investigation of complaints, and enforcement of disciplinary actions against those who violate the Mortuary Science Code and the Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services Rules. The Program's mission is to maintain the profession's integrity and protect its consumers. Several changes to the program are being considered by the Colorado General Assembly through House Bill 24-1335.  

Several changes to the program were recently made by the Colorado General Assembly through House Bill 24-1335. This bill was signed into law on May 24, 2024.  

Senate Bill 24-173, which was signed into law on May 24, 2024, mandates regulation of Mortuary Science Practitioners, Funeral Directors, Embalmers, Cremationists, and Natural Reductionists by January 1, 2027.

For more information on these changes, as well as additional information about the death care industry, please see our Consumer Guide to Death Care in Colorado. 

Rules to become effective January 15, 2025 can be found here. 
 

Program Information

Public Notices

Permanent Rulemaking Hearing – November 7, 2024

The purpose of this Rulemaking Hearing is for the Director to decide on revisions to Rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4; revisions and relocations of Rules 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9, and proposed new Rules to implement the provisions of HB24-1335 CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE REGULATION OF PERSONS RELATED TO THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF DECEASED HUMAN BODIES, and SB24-173 CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF PERSONS PROVIDING MORTUARY SCIENCE SERVICES.

 

Second Stakeholder Meeting – November 1, 2024

The purpose of this Second Stakeholder Meeting is for the Director to receive additional feedback on revisions to the Rules to implement the provisions of HB24-1335 CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE REGULATION OF PERSONS RELATED TO THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF DECEASED HUMAN BODIES, and SB24-173 CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF PERSONS PROVIDING MORTUARY SCIENCE SERVICES.

An additional purpose of this Second Stakeholder meeting is to allow the Director to gather stakeholder feedback concerning the following specific questions:

  1. How should the rules address the refrigeration requirement for facilities?
  2. How should the rules address operating capacity with respect to refrigeration?
  3. How should the rules address off-site storage of human remains?
  4. How should the rules address the process of natural reduction?
  5. How should the rules address issues surrounding advertising? Specifically, should the rules include a provision requiring that, in any advertising materials created or used by a registrant, the identity or identities of the owner or responsible party for the funeral establishment or crematory must be included, as well as a requirement to remove all signage from the premises of a funeral establishment or crematory that ceases operations?

Meeting Information:

 

Stakeholder Meeting – October 17, 2024

The purpose of this Stakeholder Meeting is for the Director to receive feedback on revisions to the Rules to implement the provisions of HB24-1335 CONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE REGULATION OF PERSONS RELATED TO THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF DECEASED HUMAN BODIES, and SB24-173 CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF PERSONS PROVIDING MORTUARY SCIENCE SERVICES.

Permanent Rulemaking Hearing – December 8, 2023

The purpose of this Permanent Rulemaking Hearing is to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to testify before the Director determines whether to repeal, on a permanent basis, Rule 1.10 - PROTECTING COLORADO’S WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES to implement Colorado Senate Bill 23-265 (Concerning a Prohibition on a Regulator Imposing Discipline Against a Person Based on Certain Activities Involving Marijuana).

REQUESTING WRITTEN STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS 
Implementation of Colorado Senate Bill 23-265

What is this about?
 

The following Boards and Programs within the Division of Professions and Occupations are requesting written comments regarding the implementation of Colorado Senate Bill 23-265 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA), and the proposed repeal of the Board and Program rules that are no longer necessary after the codification of these regulations into law. 

Each of the listed Boards and Programs below will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on the dates below to determine whether to repeal the rules on a permanent basis to implement the law.  Please submit written comments as soon as possible. The Boards and Programs will continue to accept written comments until the Permanent Rulemaking Hearings where stakeholders will be given a final opportunity to testify before the Board and/or the Director or Director's designee. Please visit the Board and Program websites under the "Public Notices" tab for the most current information, including webinar registration information, written comments, and the draft rules. 

Legislative Updates
Program Information

Jacquline Arcelin, Program Director

Office of Funeral Home and Mortuary Science Services
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303-894-7800  |  Fax: 303-894-2310  |  Email: dora_funeralhomesandcrematories@state.co.us

Reports and Statistics
  • 2023 Funeral Home and Crematory Sunset Review