The Dodge Company Announces Availability of Drug Buster

Drug disposal product introduced at NFDA Convention Billerica, MA— 11-01-2017 — The Dodge Company has announced the immediate availability of the Drug Buster medication disposal system. The safe disposal of unwanted and leftover drugs is an ongoing situation, and many funeral homes are being asked to assist with this process by the families they serve. “Drug Buster provides a safe, economical and environmentally responsible system for destroying pills, controlled substances, liquids and transdermal patches,” said …

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Maricopa County Air Quality Regulatory Process Update

Please review as this may affect our Maricopa Crematories. The Maricopa County Air Quality Department posted the Notice of Public Hearing and Reports to the Board of Supervisors for the proposed rules rescission of Rule 317 (Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators), Rule 325 (Brick and Structural Clay Products (BSCP) Manufacturing), Rule 334 (Rubber Sports Ball Manufacturing) and Rule 339 (Vegetable Oil Extraction Processes) to the Maricopa County Enhanced Regulatory Outreach Program website.  The Maricopa County Air Quality …

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Funeral Home/MC OVR Conference Call Updates

Dear Funeral Home Partners and Stakeholders,   Following yesterday’s Funeral Home/MC OVR Conference Call, the State BVR advised County OVR’s during a 3pm scheduled call of some items that are different from what we knew and were aware of up until Monday, Sept. 25th’s from the State BVR regarding the VSIMS transition and D.A.V.E. rollout.  Please see the details below: The State BVR indicated that funeral home partners and others will NOT be given a …

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Joint Letter – Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors & Embalmers and the Arizona Department of Health Services

Dear Funeral Home Partners, The Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records (Department) shared a memorandum dated September 1, 2017 from the Attorney General’s Office notifying partners that a disposition transit permit is no longer required for final disposition of a product of human conception that is less than twenty weeks gestation or if the weight is less than three hundred fifty grams.  The memorandum has since been retracted and replaced with the …

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Funeral Service Foundation Accepting Academic Scholarship Applications and Career Development Award Submissions

Brookfield, Wis. – The Funeral Service Foundation is now accepting online academic scholarship applications and Career Development Award submissions at FuneralServiceFoundation.org. The scholarships and awards are part of the Foundation ’45 Awards, which are transformative academic and professional development scholarships and programs that make education accessible and help funeral directors unlock their potential and take their careers to the next level. Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has fueled the careers of more than 6,000 …

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D.A.V.E. Go Live Date is Monday, October 2 – Training and other Information

PLEASE BE AWARE D.A.V.E. is scheduled to go live on Monday, October 2nd. VSIMS will be shut off at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 29th. Any incomplete registrations in VSIMS will be removed and you will need to re-enter into D.A.V.E. Please be sure to clear your queue and do not begin any registrations that will not be complete by Friday, September 29th. New D.A.V.E. Training Videos Anyone who will have a D.A.V.E. account needs …

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Change in Policy – No Permit Required for Fetal Loss

From Toni Miller, Policy Manager & Community Partner Liaison Arizona Department of Health Services The Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records (Department) will be implementing the new death registration system, DAVE, on October 2, 2017.  The DAVE system was developed to enhance death registration workflows statewide and to adhere to Statutes and Rules that govern the operation of Vital Records.  The Department has shared the enhancements and workflow changes with our partners. As …

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NFDA Announces 2017 Election Results

Kenneth A. Cahall to lead association as 2017-18 president Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is pleased to announce that qualified association members have elected the following individuals to serve as officers on the 2017-18 Board of Directors: President-elect Charles “Chuck” T. Bowman, CMSP, CFSP, CCO; Treasurer R. Bryant Hightower Jr., CFSP; and Secretary Randall P. “Randy” Anderson, CFSP, CCO. The 2017-18 NFDA Board of Directors will be led by President Kenneth …

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D.A.V.E. – Go Live Date, Best Practices & Q&A

The D.A.V.E. Go-Live dates is Monday, October 2, 2017. Visit the D.A.V.E. web page for information about Funeral Home training and videos. Register by September 5th for the September 11th in-person D.A.V.E. Training.  On-board your funeral home and staff for D.A.V.E. by completing the registration packet linked below and fax the documents to the ADHS office at 602-364-1257. ► Funeral Home Registration Packet Updated 7.25.2017 (DAVE)   Message from the Arizona Department of Health Services: On behalf of …

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New Legislation for Endowed-Care Cemeteries – Unitrust

Introduced in the 2017 Legislative Session was HB2203, which allows for Cemeteries in Arizona to utilize a Unitrust to maintain their property. Bill Text Main Points The goal is to provide enough revenue to provide for the perpetual maintenance of cemetery properties, current limitations make that increasingly difficult in a persistently low interest rate/bond yield market. There are many necessary safeguards in place to ensure prudent expenditures. The use of a Unitrust is not mandatory. …

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