Sec. 3. No person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation may accept or hold trust funds paid under section 1(a) of this chapter without first securing from the state board of funeral service a permit to accept and hold the funds. Applications for the permit must be in writing, signed by the applicant, and duly verified on forms furnished by the board. Each application must contain at least the following:

(1) The full name and address (both residence and place of business) of the applicant, and every member, officer, and director of the applicant if the applicant is a firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. Any permit issued in response to the application is valid for two (2) years, only at the address stated in the application for the applicant or at the address as may be approved by the board.

(2) A detailed statement of the applicant's assets and liabilities.

(3) A fidelity bond executed by the applicant and a surety company authorized to do business in this state in the amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) as the board may require.

Upon receipt of such application and bond, the board shall issue a permit unless it determines that the applicant has made false statements or representations in the application, is insolvent, has conducted or is about to conduct his business in a fraudulent manner, or is not duly authorized to transact business in this state. The board may require an additional bond from time to time in amounts equal to one tenth (1/10) of the trust funds held by the permittee. The bond must run to the state of Indiana for the use and benefit of the beneficiaries of the trust funds. The permittee shall keep accurate accounts, books, and records in this state of all transactions, copies of all agreements, dates, and amounts of payments made and accepted on all agreements, the names and addresses of the contracting parties, the persons for whose benefit the funds are accepted, and the names of the depositories of the funds. The permittee shall make reports to the board annually or at any other times that the board may require, on forms furnished by the board. Every application must be accompanied by a fee of ten dollars ($10) and every report must be accompanied by a fee of two dollars ($2). The permittee shall make all the books and records pertaining to the trust funds available to the board for examination. The board, or a qualified person designated by it may at any time investigate the books, records, and accounts of the permittee with respect to its trust funds and for that purpose may require the attendance of and examine under oath all persons whose testimony he may require.

Formerly: Acts 1963, c.303, s.3. As amended by Acts 1978, P.L.133, SEC.4; P.L.246-1985, SEC.21; P.L.8-1993, SEC.466.