Perpetual care cemeteries; require certain acreage and trust fund deposit to establish new.
Impact
The bill also significantly revises the funding requirements for these cemeteries by increasing the initial deposit needed into an irrevocable perpetual care trust fund from $25,000 to $50,000 for cemeteries established after the specified date. This fund will be managed under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State and will be designated exclusively for the maintenance and perpetual care of the cemeteries. The new provisions are intended to enhance the sustainability and financial reliability of these cemeteries, ensuring that they can adequately serve the community over the long term.
Summary
House Bill 914 aims to amend the Mississippi Code regarding perpetual care cemeteries, establishing new requirements for their formation and funding. Specifically, the bill stipulates that any new perpetual care cemetery organized on or after July 1, 2024, must adhere to specified minimum sizes based on the county's population. These minimum acreage requirements are set at 40 acres for counties with populations over 140,000, 30 acres for those with populations between 75,000 and 140,000, and 20 acres for counties with populations below 75,000. This amendment seeks to ensure that new cemeteries have sufficient land to accommodate community needs.
Contention
Notably, the bill does not apply to cemeteries that are affiliated with churches, municipalities, or family burial grounds, which could lead to discussions about equity in cemetery management across different types of organizations. This exclusion may raise concerns among community members about access to burial plots and equitable treatment, as churches often serve as significant providers of burial space in various communities. As local lawmakers consider this legislation, the potential impacts on community burial traditions and the financial viability of new cemeteries will be important topics of discussion.
Relating to Jefferson County; to amend Section 45-37-30, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the funding of the Jefferson County Cemetery Board, and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.