The Texas Funeral Service Commission is governed by seven commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate.
State law requires that two commissioners be licensed as both funeral directors and embalmers for at least five years before appointment, one commissioner be a crematory owner or operator, and four commissioners represent the public. Public members may not be regulated under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 651 and must demonstrate an interest in consumer protection.
Commissioners serve six-year terms. The Governor designates one member to serve as presiding officer for a three-year term.
7 Commissioners | 6-year terms | Appointed by the Governor
Current Commissioners
Eric Opiela
Presiding Officer
Eric Opiela of Austin is an attorney with Eric Opiela PLLC. He serves as president of the South Texans' Property Rights Association and is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is also board certified in Legislative and Campaign Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Opiela serves as treasurer of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and as a director of the Karnes City ISD Education Foundation. He also serves as Wing Legal Officer for the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History Honors and Government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law.
Jonathan Scepanski
Assistant Presiding Officer
Jonathan Scepanski serves as chief operating officer of Apex Primary Care, where he oversees day-to-day operations, management, and the development of operating policies and organizational objectives.
He is active in health care policy and the state rulemaking process and has participated in policy discussions involving the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and other state partners.
Scepanski serves on the board of the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice and participates in government affairs and community care committees. He has also served on community advisory groups and workgroups focused on improving access to health and human services.
He attended Northwood University with a concentration in marketing and management.
Larry Allen
Larry Allen attended Amber University and the Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute School of Police Supervision and graduated from the Dallas County Sheriff's Academy in 1974.
Allen served as a deputy with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department before joining the Mesquite Police Department, where he served until his retirement in 2009. During his 35-year law enforcement career, he worked as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and later served as a sergeant and lieutenant. He also led the Mesquite Police Department's Family Support Team.
Allen has been active in public safety and civic organizations, including the National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.
He serves on the Mesquite Planning and Zoning Commission and the Mesquite Capital Improvement Advisory Commission and is active with the Mesquite Ministerial Alliance, Mesquite Independent School District Career and Technical Education programs, the City of Mesquite Retirees Association, and First Baptist Church of Rockwall.
Timothy Brown
Timothy "Tim" Brown is manager and funeral director in charge of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home locations in Mission, McAllen, and Alamo.
A native of Mission, Brown graduated from Mission High School in 1995 and from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1996. He received his funeral director and embalmer licenses in 1998.
Brown has served in numerous community leadership roles, including with the Mission Boys & Girls Club, Mission Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Mission Ambulance Board, Mission Regional Medical Center Board, McAllen Mayor's Prayer Luncheon Committee, Vanguard Academy School Board, and the Texas Funeral Directors Association Disaster Team.
He was recognized as the City of Mission's Man of the Year in 2012 and as South Texas Young Funeral Director of the Year in 2015.
Brown and his family are active members of The Door Christian Fellowship of McAllen, where he serves in several ministry roles.
Salvador Perches, Jr.
Salvador "Sal" Perches, Jr. of El Paso has spent his career in the funeral service profession, continuing the family business established by his parents in 1958.
He attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and earned an associate degree in 1989. He became licensed that same year and also holds professional licenses in New Mexico and California. Earlier in his career, Perches expanded his industry experience through the manufacturing of metal caskets.
In 2000, he became chief executive officer of Perches Funeral Group, where he oversees funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories. He is also a Certified Crematory Operator.
Perches is active in professional organizations including the Texas Funeral Directors Association, International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, and National Funeral Directors Association, as well as several international funeral service organizations.
He founded the El Paso Funeral Museum and Perches Consulting Services in 2018 and has continued developing businesses serving the funeral profession, including Hearses by Perches and Perches Planning Services.
Ivan Andarza
Ivan Andarza of Austin is an attorney with Andarza Law Office and a member of the State Bar of Texas.
He previously served on the Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents.
Andarza earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Baylor University School of Law.
Jay Carnes
Jay Carnes of Texas City is owner and chief executive officer of Carnes Funeral Home, Inc.
He is a member and former Southeast Texas Region president of the Texas Funeral Directors Association and has been active in numerous state, national, and international funeral service organizations, including the National Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, and other professional organizations.
Carnes has also held numerous community leadership positions. He is a member and former chairman of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce and has served in leadership roles with Texas City Rotary, the 1894 Grand Opera House, Galveston Kiwanis, and Galveston's First Baptist Church.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Certificate in Funeral Directing from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.
Related Information
Commission Policies →
View policies adopted by the Texas Funeral Service Commission.
Commission Meetings →
View upcoming meetings, agendas, materials, public-comment information, and previous Commission records.