Senators seek consumer protections in funeral biz
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Senators seek consumer protections in funeral biz

Date: February 10, 2009
By: Brian Jarvis
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB 1

Intro: A bipartisan group of Missouri Senators made it clear Tuesday they will not let funeral care providers rip off their customers. 

Brian Jarvis in Jefferson City has more.   

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OutCue: SOC

Southwest Missouri Senator Delbert Scott is sponsoring a bill to impose licensing requirements as a way to protect people who pay for their funerals in advance.  

The bill is a response to a 2008 scandal that robbed 55,000 Missourians of their pre-need funeral funds.

The culprit was National Prearranged Services Inc., a St. Louis-based company that failed to provide burial costs.

Actuality:  SCOTT3.WAV
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Description: I hope that it will give consumers confidence that when they buy a pre-need funeral home product, they can rest assured that when they die, that product will be there to bury them.

No vote was taken. Scott says the bill will likely face several amendments before it reaches a vote.

From Jefferson City, I'm Brian Jarvis.

Intro: When someone pays for their funeral in advance, Missouri lawmakers say they should get their money's worth. Missouri Senators Tuesday argued for more oversight on the funeral business.

Brian Jarvis in Jefferson City has more.

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OutCue: SOC

In the wake of a 2008 scandal that robbed 55,000 Missourians who paid for their funerals in advance, lawmakers want closer checks and balances.

Southwest Missouri Republican Senator Delbert Scott's bill would put in place specific requirements for a pre-need funeral service providers.

One of those requirements is for them to have a good moral character.

Jackson County Democratic Senator Yvonne Wilson says that will be difficult to measure.

Actuality:  WILSON3.WAV
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Description: Good moral character. That sounds good, but actually what does that mean? You know it's very kind of aloof in my mind.

Scott says the bill needs more fine tuning before it will be ready for a vote.
 
From Jefferson City, I'm Brian Jarvis.