<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="7-4B-04" title_number="7" title_name="Morticians and Funeral Directors" subtitle_number="4B">
  <level label="a">
    <text>If pet cremation services provided by a licensee include the return of pet cremains, the licensee shall provide a written certificate with the returned pet cremains that includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The date the cremation was completed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A statement that, to the best of the licensee’s knowledge and belief, the cremation and related services were performed in accordance with the licensee’s written description of services unless otherwise indicated on the certificate;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A statement that the cremation was conducted in accordance with prevailing industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable federal and State laws; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The following statement: “The posted disclosure of pet cremation rights and responsibilities is a summary of Maryland law. The full provisions of the law are set forth in the Pet Cremation Consumer Protection Act in Title 7, Subtitle 4B of the Health Occupations Article of the Maryland Annotated Code.”.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A veterinarian, pet shop, or other person responsible for returning pet cremains to a pet owner shall provide to the pet owner:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A copy of the certificate provided by the licensee under subsection (a) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An additional certificate that states, to the best of the person’s knowledge and belief, and except as otherwise indicated on the certificate, the returned pet cremains:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Are those of the pet owner’s deceased pet; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Have been returned in accordance with the licensee’s representations to the pet owner.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A veterinarian, pet shop, or any other person responsible for returning pet cremains to a pet owner:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>May rely in good faith on the certificate provided and representations made by a licensee providing pet cremation services in accordance with the requirements of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is not required to observe the cremation process.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
