California – Funeral homes that promote their services on the Internet would have to post their prices online under legislation approved by the state Senate today.
State law already requires funeral directors to provide a general price list detailing the cost of caskets and other services at the start of any discussion with a potential consumer. Senate Bill 658 extends those requirements to funeral home websites, requiring that the home page features a link to the price list.
“The goal is to make shopping for funeral services a little easier for the consumer,” author Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, said on the floor.
A committee analysis says the Center for Public Interest Law, which sponsored the bill, is arguing that the change would help grieving consumers to make informed choices about the costly services as they explore their options online.
The bill, which passed 23-14, now goes to the Assembly.
PHOTO CREDIT: Funeral director Jim Beeding works on the display for cremations caskets at W.F. Gormley & Sons in midtown Sacramento on Wednesday, April 14, 1999. Kim D. Johnson, Sacramento Bee.
