TO THE MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA MORTICIANS ASSOCIATION, INC.

FROM: FREDERICK CARTER, VMA LOBBYIST

On Thursday February 25, the VMA won a debate in the Subcommittee on Heath in the Virginia General Assembly. The refrigeration standard for holding bodies for more than 48 hours is very likely to become law next June. The question upon which we lobbied was the maximum temperature allowable in the holding facility. Those States which have such laws have uniformly set the max. temp. at 40 degrees, Fahrenheit. Was there any reason for this temperature?

The least expensive was for a typical funeral home in the VMA to comply would be to install an air conditioner in the morgue or dressing room and run it down to the desired temperature. The problem is that one can buy a large enough unit to do the job for about $1000.  But the only digital thermostats available are limited to al low setting of 45 degrees.  To go to 40 degrees you can purchase a device to "fool" the unit into continuing below this level. It is advertised at about $1000 and has to be installed by an electrician at additional expense. Or you could buy a refrigerator unit at $5000 to $10,000 or more.

By working through Dr. Lea Bush, I obtained the name of the leading national expert on human decomposition who said there was little effective difference in the 5 degree difference.  I was successful in persuading the subcommittee that 45 degrees  was thousands of dollars cheaper even if it appeared to make Virginia seem weak on enforcement. Our Board Administrator supported the bureaucratic position of the other States. I told the subcommittee that the possible reason for the lower temperature might be that lobbying by the refrigeration manufacturing industry, which profits from the distinction, may have had its desired effect.

The art of legislation is to make everyone look good while being less burdensome on small businesses. We accomplished this by adding one word to the Bills relating to cremation and handling of remains. "approximately" was inserted before "40 degrees".  Now you can satisfy the requirement by buying a large heat pump for about $1000 and installing it in a window or wall opening in any small room in your building. Chances are you can use the morgue or dressing room that you already have. While you will probably have to have refrigeration, the cost is more reasonable after this change since all the parties know that we will agree that 45 degrees is close enough to comply.

While the Bills have yet to pass, the die is cast for a reasonable refrigeration standard.  The VMA has again represented Funeral Service in Virginia to its benefit. We had effective cooperation by the other associations, and would be remiss not to extend our thanks to them.

Fred Carter

Registered Lobbyist, VMA, Inc