Resolved, Resolved,

Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of conducting an investigation and study of equitable costs with regards to cemeteries, burials, and crematories. 

The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; 1 member to be appointed by the Senate President, 1 member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 member to be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; 1 member to be appointed by the House Minority Leader, the Undersecretary of the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation or his/her designee; and 1 representative from each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association and the Massachusetts Cemetery Association.

Such investigation and study shall include, but not be limited to;

(a) the range of costs of services provided by funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories,

(b) differences in costs between private cemeteries and public cemeteries,

(c) differences in costs between different religious cemeteries and secular cemeteries, and

(d) separating collection of payment of services provided by cemeteries and crematories from funeral homes.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations on or before November 15, 2014.