ARTICLE 6. Disciplinary Proceedings [7686. - 7711.12.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 6.
in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7686. Section 7686.

The bureau may suspend or revoke licenses, after proper notice and hearing to the licensee, if the licensee has been found guilty by the bureau of any of the acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action. The proceedings under this article shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the bureau shall have all the powers granted therein.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7686.5. Section 7686.5.

All accusations against licensees shall be filed with the bureau within two years after the performance of the act or omission alleged as the ground for disciplinary action; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not constitute a defense to an accusation alleging fraud or misrepresentation as a ground for disciplinary action. The cause for disciplinary action in such case shall not be deemed to have accrued until discovery, by the bureau, of the facts constituting the fraud or misrepresentation, and, in such case, the accusation shall be filed within three years after such discovery.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7688. Section 7688.

Notwithstanding any law, in the event of expiration or suspension of a license by operation of law or by order or decision of the director or a court of law, or the voluntary surrender of a license by a cemetery licensee, cemetery owner, cemetery operator, or holder of a cemetery certificate of authority, the director may coordinate and assist with any investigation of or action or criminal proceedings against the cemetery licensee and its officers, agents, or employees that is conducted by another law enforcement entity.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7690. Section 7690.

The bureau may discipline every accused licensee whose default has been entered or who has been tried and found guilty, after formal hearing, of any act or omission constituting a ground for disciplinary action. Any of the following penalties may be imposed by the bureau: (a) Suspension of the disciplinary order. (b) Reproval, public or private. (c) Probation. (d) Suspension of the right to practice. (e) Revocation of the right to practice. (f) Such other penalties as the bureau deems fit.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7691. Section 7691.

Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions and duties of the license holder in question constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of such conviction.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7692.5. Section 7692.5.

Any false or misleading statement regarding any law or regulation pertaining to the preparation for burial, transportation for burial, or burial of the dead, made wilfully by a licensee to obtain business as a funeral director or embalmer, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7694. Section 7694.

Solicitation, after a death or while a death is impending, of funeral directing or embalming business by the licensee, or by the agents, assistants or employees of the licensee, when such solicitation is authorized or ratified by the licensee, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. This section does not prohibit general advertising.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7695. Section 7695.

Employment by the licensee of persons known as “cappers” or “steerers” or “solicitors,” or other such persons to solicit, after a death or while a death is impending, funeral directing or embalming business constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7696. Section 7696.

Employment, directly or indirectly, of any apprentice, agent, assistant, embalmer, employee or other person, on part or full time, or on commission, for the purpose of calling upon individuals or institutions by whose influence human remains may be turned over to a particular funeral director or embalmer constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7697. Section 7697.

The buying, after a death or while a death is impending, of funeral directing and embalming business by the licensee, the licensee’s agents, assistants or employees, or the direct or indirect payment, or offer of payment, of a commission by the licensee, the licensee’s agents, assistants or employees for the purpose of such buying of business, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7700. Section 7700.

Using profane, indecent, or obscene language in the course of the preparation for burial, removal, or other disposition of, or during the funeral service for, human remains, or within the immediate hearing of the family or relatives of a deceased, whose remains have not yet been interred or otherwise disposed of constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7701. Section 7701.

Solicitation or acceptance by a licensee of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing human remains to be disposed of in any crematory, mausoleum or cemetery constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7701.5. Section 7701.5.

Solicitation or acceptance by a licensee of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing the purchase of flowers from any particular florist or dealer in flowers, for use in connection with a funeral service, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7702. Section 7702.

Using any casket or part of a casket which has previously been used as a receptacle for, or in connection with the burial or other disposition of, human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action; provided, however, this section shall not apply to exterior casket hardware which is not sold to the purchaser, or where same is reserved by contract.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7704. Section 7704.

Violation of any state law or municipal or county ordinance or regulation affecting the handling, custody, care or transportation of human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7706. Section 7706.

Refusing to surrender promptly the custody of human remains, the personal effects, and any certificate or permit required under Division 102 (commencing with Section 102100) of the Health and Safety Code that is in the possession or control of the licensee upon the express order of the person lawfully entitled to custody of the human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7708. Section 7708.

The bureau, after a hearing, may deny the application of a funeral establishment, funeral director, embalmer, or apprentice embalmer on proof that the applicant has committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7709. Section 7709.

A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this article. The bureau may order the license suspended or revoked, or may decline to issue a license, when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing such person to withdraw his plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information or indictment.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711. Section 7711.

When a funeral establishment, funeral director or embalmer has had his, or her, or its license suspended, canceled, or revoked by the bureau, the bureau, upon written application by the licensee affected, upon not less than 10 days’ notice to all parties of record in the particular case, and after hearing all evidence offered in support of and in opposition to that application, may, in its discretion, and upon those terms as it may deem just, reinstate the applicant.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.1. Section 7711.1.

Unprofessional conduct by any licensee or registrant or by any agent or employee of a licensee or registrant constitutes grounds for disciplinary action. Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of this chapter and any regulation adopted thereunder, or of any federal or state law or regulation governing the disposition of human remains, operation of cemeteries or crematories, the sale of cemetery property, or the sale of crematory services or commodities. (b) Negligence in performing any act related to the operation of a cemetery or crematory.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.2. Section 7711.2.

The bureau may, upon its own motion, and shall, upon the verified complaint in writing of any person, investigate the actions of any person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of a cemetery licensee, and may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke a license at any time where the licensee, within the immediately preceding three years, while a cemetery licensee in performing or attempting to perform any of the acts specified in this act, has been guilty of any of the following: (a) Making any substantial misrepresentation. (b) Making any false statement of a character likely to influence or persuade. (c) A continued and flagrant course of misrepresentation or making of false promises through cemetery agents or salespersons. (d) Acting for more than one party in a transaction without the knowledge or consent of all parties thereto. (e) Commingling the money or other property of his or her principal with his or her own. (f) The practice of claiming or demanding a fee, compensation, or commission under any exclusive agreement authorizing or employing a licensee to sell, buy, or exchange cemetery property for compensation or commission where such agreement does not contain a definite, specified date of final and complete termination. (g) The claiming or taking by a licensee of any secret or undisclosed amount of compensation, commission, or profit or the failure of a licensee to reveal to the employer of such licensee the full amount of such licensee’s compensation, commission, or profit under any agreement authorizing or employing such licensee to sell, buy, or exchange cemetery property for compensation or commission prior to or coincident with the signing of such agreement evidencing the meeting of the minds of the contracting parties, regardless of the form of such agreement, whether evidenced by documents in an escrow or by any other or different procedure. (h) The use by a licensee of any provision allowing the licensee an option to purchase in an agreement authorizing or employing such licensee to sell, buy, or exchange cemetery property for compensation or commission, except when such licensee prior to or coincident with election to exercise such option to purchase reveals in writing to the employer the full amount of the licensee’s profit and obtains the written consent of the employer approving the amount of such profit. (i) Any other conduct, whether of the same or a different character than specified in this section, which constitutes fraud or dishonest dealing. (j) The misrepresentations and false statements mentioned in this section also include misrepresentation and false statements as to other property than that which the cemetery licensee may be selling or attempting to sell.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.3. Section 7711.3.

The bureau may suspend or revoke the license of any cemetery licensee who, within the immediately preceding three years, has done any of the following: (a) Been convicted of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of such licensee. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of such conviction. (b) Knowingly authorized, directed, connived at, or aided in the publication, advertisement, distribution, or circulation of any material false statement or representation concerning his or her business or any cemetery property offered for sale. (c) Willfully disregarded or violated any of the provisions of this act relating to cemetery brokerage. (d) Acted or conducted himself or herself in a manner which would have warranted the denial of his or her application for a cemetery license, or for a renewal thereof.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.4. Section 7711.4.

When any salesperson is discharged by his or her employer for a violation of any of the provisions of this article prescribing a ground for disciplinary action, a verified written statement of the facts with reference thereto shall be filed forthwith with the bureau by the employer and, if the employer fails to notify the bureau as required by this section, the bureau may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke the cemetery license of the employer in accordance with the provisions of this act.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.5. Section 7711.5.

The bureau may deny, suspend, or revoke the cemetery license of a corporation as to any officer or agent acting under its cemetery license, and the cemetery license of a copartnership as to any member acting under its cemetery license, without revoking the cemetery license of the corporation or of the copartnership.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.6. Section 7711.6.

The fees for cemetery licenses at all periods of the fiscal year is the same as provided in this article. All cemetery license fees are payable in advance of issuing the licenses and at the time of filing the application. All licenses shall be issued for the fiscal year and shall expire on June 30 of each fiscal year at midnight.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.7. Section 7711.7.

(a) If a person fails to apply for a license renewal, no renewal license shall be issued except upon payment of the delinquent renewal fee required under Section 7729.2. (b) A person who fails to renew his or her license within one year of the expiration date shall not engage in any of the activities authorized by a license unless he or she first files the application required for an original license, pays the original license fee, and otherwise complies with all of the provisions of this act pertaining to the issuance of an original license.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.9. Section 7711.9.

An original cemetery broker’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who did not have a cemetery broker’s license on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the license is issued.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.10. Section 7711.10.

A renewal cemetery broker’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who had a cemetery broker’s license unrevoked and unsuspended on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the renewal cemetery license is issued.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.11. Section 7711.11.

An original cemetery salesperson’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who did not have a cemetery salesperson’s or a broker’s license either individually or as an officer of a corporation, or as a member of a copartnership, on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the salesperson’s license is issued.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7711.12. Section 7711.12.

A renewal cemetery salesperson’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who had a cemetery salesperson’s or a broker’s license either individually or as an officer of a corporation, or as a member of a copartnership, on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the salesperson’s license is issued.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements