[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56717-56718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27441]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 453


Funeral Rule Public Workshop Conference

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of date of Public Workshop Conference.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') will 
hold a Public Workshop Conference in connection with the periodic 
regulatory review of the Commission's Trade Regulation Rule on Funeral 
Industry Practices, 16 CFR Part 453 (the ``Funeral Rule'' or the 
``Rule''), and the comments received in response to the Commission's 
call for comments on that review.

DATES: The Public Workshop Conference will be held on November 18, 1999 
at the FTC's Washington, DC headquarters. The Conference will run from 
9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra Howard, (202) 326-2047, Division 
of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal 
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission adopted the Funeral Rule on 
September 24, 1982, and it became fully effective on April 30, 1984.\1\ 
Subsequently, the Funeral Rule was amended as a result of a regulatory 
review and amendment proceeding begun in 1987; the amended Funeral Rule 
was published on January 11, 1994, and took effect July 19, 1994.\2\ On 
May 5, 1999, the Commission again published a request for comment on 
the Rule, 64 FR 24250 (``FR Notice''), as part of its continuing 
program of periodic review of all of its trade regulation rules (``Rule 
Review'') to determine their current effectiveness and impact. The FR 
Notice sought comment on the standard regulatory review questions, such 
as what are the costs and benefits of the Rule, whether there is a 
continuing need for the Rule, what changes in the Rule would increase 
the Rule's benefits to consumers and how these changes would affect 
compliance costs, and what changes in the marketplace and new 
technologies may affect the Rule.
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    \1\ 48 FR 45537.
    \2\ 59 FR 1592.
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    The FR Notice also sought comment on several distinct issues: (1) 
Whether the Commission should amend the Rule by revising its definition 
of ``funeral provider;'' (2) Whether the Commission's casket handling 
fee prohibition has been effective and how it had affected consumers 
and funeral providers; (3) Whether the Commission should retain the 
provision that allows one, and only one, non-declinable fee to cover 
the basic services of the funeral director and staff; and (4) Whether 
the Commission should add, delete, or revise any of the required 
disclosures on the General Price List.
    The initial deadline for written comments was July 12, 1999, but 
based on a number of requests from commenters, the deadline was 
extended until August 11, 1999. 64 FR 35965 (July 2, 1999). In its May 
5, 1999 FR Notice regarding the regulatory review of the Funeral Rule, 
the Commission also stated that FTC staff would conduct a Public 
Workshop Conference to discuss the written comments received in 
response to the solicitation of comments pursuant to the Rule Review. 
The initial deadline to submit a request to participate in the public 
workshop was July 12, 1999, but was also extended until August 11, 
1999.
    The Public Workshop Conference, which will be held on November 18, 
1999, will afford Commission staff and interested parties an 
opportunity to discuss openly issues raised during the Rule Review, 
and, in particular, to examine publicly any areas of significant 
controversy or divergent opinions that are raised in the written 
comments. Commission staff will consider the views and suggestions made 
during the Conference, in conjunction with the written comments, in 
formulating its final recommendation to the Commission concerning the 
Funeral Rule.
    The Commission staff will select a limited number of parties to 
represent the significant interests affected by the Funeral Rule. These 
parties will participate in an open discussion of the issues. It is 
contemplated that the selected parties might ask and answer questions 
based on their respective comments.
    In addition, the Conference will be open to the general public. 
Members of the general public who attend the Conference may have an 
opportunity to make a brief oral statement presenting their views on 
issues raised in the rule review process. Oral statements of views by 
members of the general public will be limited to a few minutes. The 
time allotted for these statements will be determined on the basis of 
the time available and the number of persons who wish to make 
statements. The discussion will be transcribed and placed on the public 
record. Written submissions of views, or any other written or visual 
materials, will not be accepted during the Conference.
    To the extent possible, Commission staff will select parties to 
represent the following affected interests: Funeral homes; cemeteries; 
monument builders; third party sellers of funeral goods; trade 
organizations; consumer organizations; consumers economists and 
academicians; Federal, State and local law enforcement and regulatory 
authorities; and any other interests that Commission staff may identify 
and deem appropriate for representation.
    Parties representing the above-referenced interests will be 
selected on the basis of the following criteria:
    1. The party submitted a comment during the comment period ending 
on August 11, 1999.
    2. The party notified Commission staff in writing or by E-mail of 
its interest and, if required, authorization to represent an affected 
interest, on or before August 11, 1999.
    3. The party's participation would promote a balance of interests 
being represented at the Conference.
    4. The party's participation would promote the consideration and 
discussion of a variety of issues raised during the Rule Review 
process.
    5. The party has experience or expertise in activities affected by 
the Funeral Rule.
    6. The party adequately reflects the views of the affected 
interest(s).
    7. The number of parties selected will not be so large as to 
inhibit effective discussion among them.
    The Conference will be facilitated by a Commission staff member. It 
will be held on November 18, 1999, at the Federal Trade Commission's 
headquarters, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580. Prior to 
the

[[Page 56718]]

Conference, parties selected to represent an affected interest will be 
provided with copies of the comments submitted by all Conference 
participants. The Commission strongly encourages all interested 
individuals to participate in the Public Workshop Conference, as the 
transcripts from the Conferences will be an important part of the 
public record in this proceeding. Individuals wishing to make oral 
statements at the end of the day need not submit a request to 
participate, and the Commission will make every effort to provide time 
for all members of the general public to make statements regarding any 
of the rulemaking issues.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-27441 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M