(1) There is created the State Mortuary and Cemetery Board to carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of this chapter. The board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner provided in ORS § 171.562 and 171.565. All members of the board must be residents of this state. Of the members of the board:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 692.300

  • Board: means the State Mortuary and Cemetery Board. See Oregon Statutes 692.010
  • Cemetery: means any one, or a combination of more than one, of the following, in a place used, or intended to be used, and dedicated, for cemetery purposes:

    (a) A burial park, for earth interments;

    (b) A mausoleum, for crypt interments;

    (c) A columbarium, for permanent interments of cremated or reduced remains;

    (d) A scattering garden or other designated area above or below ground where a person may pay to establish a memorial of cremated or reduced remains; or

    (e) A cenotaph, the primary purpose of which is to provide an area where a person may pay to establish a memorial to honor a person whose remains may be interred elsewhere or whose remains cannot be recovered. See Oregon Statutes 692.010

  • City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
  • Final disposition: means the burial, interment, cremation, dissolution, reduction or other disposition of human remains authorized by the board by rule. See Oregon Statutes 692.010
  • Immediate disposition company: means any business licensed under this chapter, other than a licensed funeral establishment, where a licensed funeral service practitioner operates the business of immediate final disposition and where business records are kept. See Oregon Statutes 692.010

(a) One member must be a funeral service practitioner.

(b) Two members must be representatives of an immediate disposition company or a licensed funeral establishment, and at least one of the two must be a licensed embalmer.

(c) Three members must be representatives of cemeteries, one representing a for-profit cemetery, one representing a nonprofit cemetery and one representing a cemetery owned or operated by a city, county or special district.

(d) One member must be a representative of a crematorium or other facility for final disposition of human remains under ORS § 692.275 that is not a cemetery.

(e) Four members must be representatives of the public, one of whom must be a member of a recognized senior citizen organization.

(2)(a) For each vacancy on the board under subsection (1)(a) to (d) of this section, the Governor may select a board member from a list of three to five nominees submitted by professional organizations that represent individuals licensed, certified or registered by the board or facilities regulated by the board.

(b) In selecting the members of the board, the Governor shall strive to balance the representation on the board according to:

(A) Geographic areas of this state; and

(B) Ethnicity.

(3)(a) The term of office of the members of the board shall be four years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The terms must be staggered so that no more than four terms end each year. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, a member is eligible for no more than two consecutive terms. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective to fill the vacancy. The four-year term of a board member appointed to a vacant position begins on the date of appointment.

(b) A board member shall be removed immediately from the board if, during the member’s term, the member:

(A) Is not a resident of this state;

(B) Has been absent from three consecutive board meetings, unless at least one absence is excused;

(C) Is not a licensed funeral service practitioner or a retired funeral service practitioner whose license was in good standing at the time of retirement, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as a funeral service practitioner; or

(D) Is not an authorized representative of a cemetery, crematorium, funeral establishment or immediate disposition company, or other facility that is regulated by and in good standing with the board, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as a representative of the facility.

(c) A member who is a representative of the public may serve more than two consecutive terms if no other member of the public applies to fill an open position. [Amended by 1971 c.650 § 25; 1973 c.792 § 46; 1979 c.858 § 3; 1981 c.439 § 1; 1983 c.810 § 20; 1985 c.207 § 15; 1991 c.542 § 5; 1997 c.632 § 12; 2009 c.535 § 35; 2009 c.756 § 85; 2017 c.103 § 1]