Tennessee § 62-5-208 - Power to conduct inspections and investigate complaints.

§ 62-5-208. Power to conduct inspections and investigate complaints.

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or rule to the contrary, the board is authorized to conduct inspections and investigate complaints to enforce this chapter. The board, utilizing an authorized representative licensed as a funeral director and embalmer, shall: Inspect a funeral establishment making application to the board for initial licensure, change of ownership, or change of location, prior to approving the application; provided, if the establishment to be inspected is a crematory facility, the authorized representative shall also be certified as a crematory operator; and Conduct an unannounced inspection of every funeral establishment each year. The following provisions apply to inspections required by this subdivision (b)(2): Inspections shall be conducted on weekdays between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. (8:00 a.m.) and four-thirty p.m. (4:30 p.m.); Inspections shall be limited in scope to items in an inspection checklist that shall be published on the board's website; provided, that violations of other items that are plainly visible may be documented; and If a funeral establishment is unable to participate due to factors not reasonably within its control, the authorized representative may defer the inspection, or a portion thereof, and the funeral establishment shall not incur a reinspection fee. During the course of inspections, reasonable care shall be used to avoid disruption to invitees being served by the funeral establishment. A licensee shall not unreasonably fail to cooperate with an authorized representative acting in accordance with this chapter. Acts 2014, ch. 690, § 2; 2015, ch. 161, § 2. Compiler's Notes. Pursuant to Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, Acts 2015, ch. 161 became effective April 17, 2015.