1. (a) First Call is the beginning of the relationship between the consumer and the licensed funeral director and licensed funeral establishment to prepare the body for burial or other disposition. The relationship is initiated by the consumer or the person responsible for making arrangements for final disposition.
2. (b) Transportation of a body sent to a morgue, or a funeral home for identification or autopsy at the request of a justice of the peace, medical examiner, or other official under Chapter 49, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure does not constitute a First Call. Any expenses or items used specifically for the transportation of a body to a morgue, or a funeral home are not items of choice for the consumer, including storage, and are therefore not the responsibility of the consumer to pay.
3. (c) Commercial embalming establishment licensees are prohibited from authorizing first calls or dealing directly with the public for services or merchandise; such first calls must be authorized by a licensed funeral establishment as defined in §651.351, Texas Occupations Code, prior to such removal. Any such removal must bear the name of the funeral establishment authorizing the removal on the release form.

Source Note:The provisions of this §203.2 adopted to be effective September 14, 1987, 12 TexReg 2921; amended to be effective December 23, 2001, 26 TexReg 10290; amended to be effective October 6, 2011, 36 TexReg 6511.