1. A. Any funeral director, embalmer, funeral establishment or other person licensed by the Department shall comply with the following general funeral service requirements:

   1. 1. Licensees shall deal with funeral services consumers in an honest and truthful manner, and shall be responsive and sensitive to particular requirements or needs concerning funeral arrangements. Licensees shall not engage in any conduct that causes or results in disrespect for the deceased person, disruption of the funeral services or any injury to the decedent’s family, contrary to the prevailing standards and practices of the profession in this state.
   2. 2. Licensees shall perform their respective responsibilities concerning the care, handling, transportation and disposition of human remains and concerning all transactions with funeral services consumers in a careful and competent manner in accordance with the prevailing standards and practices of the profession in this state.

   3. 3. Licensees shall comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to their activities in the care, handling, transportation and disposition of human remains including, without limitation, the provisions of the Funeral Directors Act (A.R.S. § 32-1301 et seq.), the Prearranged Funeral Plan Act (A.R.S. § 44-1721 et seq.), and these rules. Licensees shall comply with all health laws and regulations that pertain to the embalming and preparation of human remains. The following health laws and rules should be reviewed and followed to the extent applicable:

      Subject	Law or Rule
      Vital statistics	A.R.S. § 36-301 et seq. and 9 A.A.C. 19, Article 3
      Health menaces	A.R.S. § 36-601 et seq.
      Disposition of bodies	A.R.S. § 36-803 et seq.
      Communicable diseases	A.R.S. § 36-621 and A.A.C. R9-6-102

   4. 4. Licensees should also make reasonable efforts to cooperate with the customs of all religions and creeds according to the desires of the decedent or his family.

   5. 5. Licensees shall not make statements nor engage in activities that foreseeably could result in needless infliction of emotional distress on members of the decedent’s family or result in exposing the remains to unnecessary indignity, including without limitation:

      1. a. Making statements to members of the family designed to offend their sensibilities during grief, including unsolicited comments concerning graphic details of the embalming, or of the condition, decomposition or decay of the remains, except those statements that are necessary under the circumstances to adequately inform the family concerning the advisability of viewing the remains or having an open-casket funeral ceremony are not prohibited by this subsection;
      2. b. Permitting the remains to be exposed or displayed to members of the family or the public in a manner not consistent with public health; or

      3. c. Permitting the remains to be exposed or displayed to members of the family or the public in a manner designed to offend their sensibilities during grief, including exposing or displaying the remains:

         1. i. During the embalming or preparation process;
         2. ii. Without clothing or suitable covering of the trunk and limbs of the remains;
         3. iii. For any promotional or commercial purpose; or
         4. iv. For photographs, videotape, or other reproductive process without clothing or suitable covering or during the embalming or preparation process. This subsection does not apply where public officials in the discharge of their duties view or examine the remains.
   6. 6. Licensees shall not disclose or divulge any privacy, secrecy, confidence or secret of the domestic or private life of any deceased or the family thereof or of any home or circle learned as a result of professional employment, unless such disclosure is required by law, or is necessary to conduct the legitimate business of the funeral establishment in accordance with law. Licensees shall not discuss facts concerning the cause of death, expenditures for the funeral, the source of funds, or other matters of a personal nature except with the members of the family or their authorized representatives. Such information may be released to the Department during an investigation or inspection if a release or other permission is obtained or received from a family member or if pursuant to a subpoena or other court or administrative directive.
   7. 7. Licensees shall not pay or cause to be paid to any person, including without limitation a nurse, attendant, doctor, ambulance personnel, hospital personnel, health care facility personnel, clergy, or law enforcement officers, money or other valuable consideration to secure business from or through such person.
2. B. Failure to substantially comply with the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be evidence of gross negligence, repeated or continuing negligence, or other professional incompetence.

Historical Note

New Section R9-9B-304 recodified from R4-12-301 and amended at 32 A.A.R. 177 (January 9, 2026), effective January 1, 2026 (Supp. 25-4).