Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Florida's Regulation of the Death Care Industry Has Many Weaknesses, Results of a Joint Examination Conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability and the Auditor General

Report 02-21, March 2002

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Report Summary

  • The department has not performed cemetery examinations in a timely manner.
  • The department has inadequate follow-up procedures to ensure that cemeteries correct violations found during examinations and inspections.
  • The department's examination methodology needs improvement.
  • The department's examination files are incomplete.
  • The department's statutory enforcement authority is unclear, and the department interprets its authority narrowly.
  • The department tends to mediate complaints rather than take strong disciplinary action.
  • Current statutory disclosure requirements do not provide sufficient information to the department and the public.
  • The state's regulation of the death care industry is unnecessarily fragmented.

Related Reports
  1. Progress Report: Improvements to Death Care Industry Still Needed
    Report 04-17 February 2004
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
government, government support,cemetery, funeral home, funeral director, embalmer, funeral establishment, cemetery company, exempt cemetery, death care, pre-need, licensing board, enforcement, monument establishment, sales agent, certificates of authority