Joe Deko Appointed to State Legislature's Group Studying Prepaid Funeral Contracts to Protect Consumers

EAST HAVEN, CT — Joseph E. Deko wears many important hats.

He is a career firefighter/EMT with the Guilford Fire Department.

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He serves as the chair of the East Haven Town Council.

He also, with James P. Integlia, owns and operates East Haven Memorial Funeral Home.

This week, Deko received yet another hat to don.

He's been appointed to the state's working group to study prepaid funeral service contracts.

The Connecticut General Assembly created a working group to take a closer look at prepaid funeral service contracts and the consumer protections surrounding them under House Bill 5381. The bill was drafted in response to fraudulent prepaid funeral schemes uncovered in Tolland and Hartford counties. After passing the House, it moved to the Senate for consideration.

Alongside the working group, the legislation also established a Funeral Services Compensation Account to help reimburse individuals who lost money due to fraudulent or mishandled pre-need funeral contracts.

The working group’s main responsibilities include:

• Reviewing contract structures: Examining issues related to pre-need funeral contracts and cremation service agreements.
• Strengthening oversight: Recommending stronger consumer protections and improvements to state regulation of the funeral services industry.
• Developing compensation mechanisms: Creating rules for distributing funds to affected consumers and exploring the framework for a future industry-backed guarantee fund.

Deko took to Facebook to share the news.

"I am honored to announce my appointment to the Connecticut State working group focused on reviewing and strengthening Connecticut’s prepaid funeral laws.

This important effort brings together professionals and stakeholders committed to ensuring that prepaid funeral arrangements continue to serve and protect Connecticut families while maintaining the highest standards within our profession.

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute my experience and perspective to this process and look forward to working collaboratively with fellow members of the group.

A special thank you to Senator Paul Cicarella for his confidence in me and for entrusting me with this appointment. Your support and leadership are greatly appreciated. I look forward to helping shape thoughtful policies that will benefit Connecticut families and the funeral profession for years to come."

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