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Government & Legal Affairs
ICCFA Speaking for You
The ICCFA does what no cemetery or funeral home can do alone: We speak for the entire industry. Congress looks to us when an expert on our industry is needed. The ICCFA regularly interacts with numerous federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, the General Accounting Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the state and federal courts.
In 2006 and 2008, staff and members of the ICCFA visited Capitol Hill, calling on dozens of senators and officers to explain the role of the association as a potential resource to legislators, to introduce them to the association's model guidelines and to advocate for H.R. 1273, a bill to restore the plot and marker reimbursement allowance for veterans and their families who choose to be buried in private and religious cemeteries.
Review some of the recent government and legal advocacy efforts the ICCFA has undertaken on behalf of the profession.
Free Fraud Investigation & Deterrence Consultation Service
The association has retained the services of veteran fraud investigator Robert A. Garvey Jr., CPA, CFE, CrFA, CVA, to serve as a consultative resource for members' employee theft and fraud concerns. The new member benefit, the "Fraud Investigation & Deterrence Consultation Service" or FIDCS, will allow members to discuss by telephone any issues or concerns related to suspected fraudulent activity or a desire to put systems and controls in place at their locations to deter such activity. There is no cost to ICCFA members in good standing to utilize this benefit. The number to call is 1.866.649.1902.
ICCFA Provide Services To Make Sure You Comply With Government Rules & Regulations
ICCFA Provides Members With New "Red Flag" Compliance Program—ICCFA is providing members with a sample compliance program concerning new federal rules to fight identity theft. To have the program template sent to you, please contact us at 1.800.645.7700 or rfells@iccfa.com.
GPL Compliance Check Offered to Members—Effective immediately, members whose businesses must comply with the FTC Funeral Rule's General Price List (GPL) requirements can have their lists reviewed by attorney Poul H. Lemasters, Esq., without charge. The ICCFA has retained the services of Mr. Lemasters, who is an attorney and a licensed funeral director, to provide telephone consultation on cremated-related legal issues. Now this service has been expanded to include GPL reviews. You may contact Lemasters toll-free at 1.800.221.2889.
Free Telephone Consultations on Cremation Issues Through exclusive retainer agreements, ICCFA members can access telephone legal consultations regarding cremation questions through attorney and funeral director Poul Lemasters at 1.800.221.2889. ICCFA Responds to the Media
In addition, the ICCFA regularly responds to misleading reports and news articles on the industry.
Read some of the letters the ICCFA has sent in response to media reports.
ICCFA Model Guidelines for State Laws and Regulations
The ICCFA Government and Legal Affairs Committee has developed a set of 28 model guidelines for state laws and regulations. The guidelines combine a sensitivity to consumer protection issues with the need for cemeteries, funeral homes, memorial designers and crematories to conduct their operations according to sound business principles.
Review the ICCFA model guidelines.
Washington Report
The ICCFA keeps members informed of relevant legislative and legal activities through several vehicles, including the "Washington Report," a column that appears monthly in the ICCFA Magazine.
Read recent editions of the "Washington Report."
Cremation Guides
The ICCFA offers several Cremation resources, including guidelines, model contracts and recommended procedures.
View the menu of resources.
ICCFA Representatives Attend Pandemic Flu Conference
In March 2006, representatives from the ICCFA participated in a two-day "Fatality Management Pandemic Influenza Working Group Conference" at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. The Association was represented by Past President Robert A. Gordon Sr., CCFE, and General Counsel Robert M. Fells. The group received briefings on various aspects of a potential flu pandemic affecting the United States and worldwide.
Following are the four downloadable White Papers that resulted from this conference:
www.icfa.org/docs/white_paper.doc
www.icfa.org/docs/white_paper2.doc
www.icfa.org/docs/final_disposition.doc
www.icfa.org/pdf/white_paperMFM.pdf
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