Legislation to Protect Cemeteries

Please let us know about additional state laws (including pending ones) drafted to help protect cemeteries in the United States.

Arizona

41-865
Disturbing human remains or funerary objects; rules; violation; classification; definitions

Connecticut

Connecticut State Statutes

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Landmark and Historic Preservation Act

Florida

Florida Statute 497.345 -- Abandoned cemeteries; immunity

Florida Statute 704.08 -- Cemeteries; right of ingress and egress for visiting or maintenance

Florida Statute 872.02 -- Injuring or removing tomb or monument; disturbing contents of grave or tomb

H 3763: Cemetery Preservation & Consumer Act
Provides duty of care & maintenance of licensed cemeteries; provides rulemaking authority to Funeral & Cemetery Services Board; provides circumstances under which cemetery or component thereof may be deemed public nuisance & provides for abatement thereof; creates Task Force on Abandoned & Neglected Cemeteries within Banking & Finance Dept., etc.

Georgia

Georgia Code 36-72-1

Indiana

House Bill 1184 went into effect July 1, 2000.
A consolidation of the measures recommended by the Natural Resources Study Committee in its November 1999 Annual Report to identify and protect Indiana's pioneer family cemeteries.

House Bill 1522
Creates a variety of provisions to preserve Indiana cemeteries. It includes penalties for damaging property at a cemetery or a facility used for memorializing the dead, and prohibits the buying or selling of certain items that have been removed from a cemetery.

Kentucky

House Bill 433
To make the violation of a grave a Class D felony by amending KRS 525.115

Maine

§ 1303. Ownership and operation

§ 1305. Care and maintenance

§ 1306. Cemetery perpetual care fund

§ 507-B. Illegal possession or sale of gravestones

§ 1347. Improper conditions; removal of bodies

§ 1371. Approval for repair, maintenance and removal

§ 507-A. Interference with cemetery or burial ground

§ 1348. Permanent care and improvement fund

Missouri

Legislation to protect the cemeteries of Missouri may be found online at the following URL:

RSMO Chapter 214

Wisconsin

Section 157.115 -- Abandonment of cemeteries and cemetery lots.