65-1716. Biennial renewal fee; notice; suspension of license; reinstatement fee; relicensure; rules and regulations; evidence of continuing education required for license renewal; exemption. (a) The renewal fee for a funeral director's license shall be in the amount fixed by the state board of mortuary arts in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 65-1727 and amendments thereto. The fee shall be due and payable to the secretary of the board prior to the expiration date of the license. The secretary of the board shall mail a notice of the expiration date of each license and of the renewal fee at least 30 days prior to the date of expiration to the last known address of each licensee. If the licensee fails to pay such renewal fee within the time specified, the licensee shall be automatically suspended and denied the right to practice funeral directing in this state during such suspension.

(b) The board may reinstate such lapsed license upon the payment of the fee in arrears, plus the additional reinstatement fee in the amount equal to the renewal fee, if such lapse is not over six months in duration.

(c) Any person who fails to reinstate a lapsed license within six months after the lapse of such license may apply for relicensure by making application on a form provided by the board. Relicensure shall be granted upon receipt of proof that the applicant is competent to act as a licensed funeral director, meets qualifications to act as a licensed funeral director, has satisfied all of the requirements for renewal established by law and has paid the board all back renewal fees as established by the board by rules and regulations.

(d) The expiration date of each license shall be established by rules and regulations of the board. Subject to the provisions of this subsection, each license shall be renewed on a biennial basis upon the filing of a renewal application prior to the expiration date of the license and upon payment of the renewal fee established pursuant to K.S.A. 65-1727 and amendments thereto. To provide for a system of biennial renewal of licenses, the board may provide by rules and regulations that licenses issued or renewed for the first time after the effective date of this act may expire less than two years from the date of issuance or renewal. In each case in which a license is issued or renewed for a period of time of less than two years, the board shall prorate to the nearest whole month the license or renewal fee established pursuant to K.S.A. 65-1727 and amendments thereto.

(e) Every licensed funeral director who desires to be actively engaged in the practice of funeral directing in Kansas shall submit with the renewal application and renewal fee evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education required by the board. The board by duly adopted rules and regulations shall establish the requirements for such program of continuing education as soon as possible after the effective date of this act.

(f) Every licensed funeral director who is not actively engaged in the practice of funeral directing in the state shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements set forth in this section. If the person becomes engaged in the active practice of funeral directing, such person shall within the first full year after becoming engaged in active practice meet the continuing education requirements specified by the board.

History: L. 1935, ch. 234, § 4; L. 1941, ch. 297, § 18; L. 1953, ch. 291, § 2; L. 1964, ch. 27, § 6 (Budget Session); L. 1976, ch. 271, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 188, § 8; L. 1985, ch. 215, § 10; L. 1991, ch. 190, § 5; July 1.