SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,22,1414 157.11 (9g) (title) Care fund for cemetery lots burial spaces.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852Lh 15Section 2852Lh. 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,22,1816 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 66.0603 (1) (c) 66.0603 (1m)
17(c)
and 157.19 (5) (b), funds that are received by a cemetery authority for the care of
18a cemetery lot burial space shall be invested in one or more of the following manners:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852Lj 19Section 2852Lj. 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,23,220 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. c. If not invested as provided in subd. 1. a. or b., otherwise
21deposited by the cemetery authority in an investment approved by the department
22if the care funds are segregated and invested separately from all other moneys held
23by the cemetery authority and if the cemetery authority submits to the department
24a written statement by an investment advisor licensed under ch. 551, or a broker, as

1defined in s. 408.102 (1) (c), that the investment is made in accordance with the
2standards specified in s. 881.01
.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852LL 3Section 2852LL. 157.11 (9g) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,24,24 157.11 (9g) (a) 2. The manner in which the care funds are invested may not
5permit the cemetery authority to withdraw the care fund's principal amount, but
6may permit the withdrawal of interest, dividends, or capital gains earned during the
7most recently completed calendar year
. The income from the investment of a care
8fund for the care of cemetery lots burial spaces may be used only to maintain the
9cemetery lots burial spaces and grounds, except that if the amount of income exceeds
10the amount necessary to maintain the cemetery lots burial spaces or grounds
11properly, the excess amount may be used to maintain any other portion of the
12cemetery, including mausoleums. If the care funds are deposited with a city or
13county, or previously deposited with a village, there shall be paid to the cemetery
14authority annually interest on funds so deposited of not less than 2% per year. The
15governing body of any city or county, or any village or town in the case of previous
16deposits, may determine to return all or a part of any funds deposited by a cemetery
17authority, and that cemetery authority shall accept the returned funds within 30
18days after receiving written notice of that action. If the cemetery authority is
19dissolved or becomes inoperative, the county or city shall use the interest on the
20funds for the care and upkeep of the cemetery. Deposit shall be made and the income
21paid over from time to time, not less frequently than once each year, and receipts in
22triplicate shall be given, one filed with the county clerk, one with the cemetery
23authority and one given to the person making the deposit. Deposits shall be in the
24amount of $5 or a multiple thereof. Records and receipts shall specify the cemetery
25lot
burial space for the care of which the deposit is made. Reports of money received

1for care and of money and property received as gifts shall be made annually as
2provided in s. 157.62 (2).
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852Ln 3Section 2852Ln. 157.11 (9g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,24,104 157.11 (9g) (c) Except as provided in sub. (11), any Any cemetery authority that
5sells a cemetery lot, lawn crypt, or columbarium space on or after November 1, 1991
6the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], shall deposit 15% of each
7payment of principal into a care fund under par. (a) within 30 days after the last day
8of the month in which the payment is received, except as provided in sub. (7) (d) and
9s. 157.115 (2) (f). The total amount deposited must equal 15% of the total amount of
10all payments of principal that have been received, but not less than $25.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852Lp 11Section 2852Lp. 157.11 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,24,1412 157.11 (10) Exemption for religious societies cemetery authorities.
13Subsections (1) to (9), (9g) (a) and (b), (9m) and (9r) do not apply, but sub. (9g) (c) does
14apply, to a religious society organized under ch. 187 cemetery authority.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852Lr 15Section 2852Lr. 157.11 (11) of the statutes is repealed.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852ob 16Section 2852ob. 157.115 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,24,18 17157.115 (title) Abandonment of cemeteries and cemetery lots burial
18spaces
.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852od 19Section 2852od. 157.115 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 157.115 (1)
20(b) and amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,25,821 157.115 (1) (b) When a If a municipality in which a cemetery is located
22determines that the
cemetery authority fails has failed to care for the cemetery for
23a period of one or more years 6 months or more, the municipality in which the
24cemetery is located
shall notify the cemetery authority that it has 90 days to correct
25the failure. Upon a showing of good cause, the municipality may grant the cemetery

1authority one 90-day extension to correct the failure. If the municipality finds that
2the cemetery authority has failed to correct the failure within the deadline specified
3in the notice or extension, the municipality
may, after a public hearing, take control
4of the cemetery, manage and care for the cemetery and , collect and manage all trust
5funds connected with the cemetery other than trust funds received by a will, or take
6any other action necessary to provide for the care of the cemetery. The municipality
7may collect from the cemetery authority any costs incurred by the municipality in
8exercising its authority under this paragraph
.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852of 9Section 2852of. 157.115 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852oh 10Section 2852oh. 157.115 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852oj 11Section 2852oj. 157.115 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,25,1512 157.115 (1) (d) Upon application by the department, a court may enjoin a
13person from acquiring ownership or control of a cemetery if the person has
14abandoned another cemetery, or has owned or operated another cemetery that is
15subsequently controlled by a municipality under par. (b).
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852oL 16Section 2852oL. 157.115 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,25,1717 157.115 (2) (title) Abandonment of cemetery lots burial spaces.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852on 18Section 2852on. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,25,2519 157.115 (2) (a) 1. (intro.) "Abandoned lot space" means one or more graves of
20a cemetery lot
burial spaces that is are not owned by the cemetery authority of the
21cemetery in which the cemetery lot is burial spaces are located if those graves burial
22spaces
have not been used for the burial of human remains and if, according to the
23records of the cemetery authority, all of the following apply during the 50-year period
24immediately preceding the date on which the notice requirement under par. (c) is
25satisfied:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852op
1Section 2852op. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,32 157.115 (2) (a) 1. a. No owner has transferred any ownership interest in the
3cemetery lot burial space to any other person.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852or 4Section 2852or. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,65 157.115 (2) (a) 1. b. No owner has purchased or sold another cemetery lot or a
6mausoleum
burial space in the cemetery.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852ot 7Section 2852ot. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,108 157.115 (2) (a) 1. c. No other grave in that cemetery lot burial space or adjoining
9cemetery lot or
adjoining mausoleum burial space that is owned or partially owned
10by an owner has been used for the burial of human remains.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852ov 11Section 2852ov. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. d. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,1312 157.115 (2) (a) 1. d. No grave marker, monument, or other memorial has been
13installed on the cemetery lot burial space.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852ox 14Section 2852ox. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. e. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,1715 157.115 (2) (a) 1. e. No grave marker, monument, or other memorial has been
16installed on any other cemetery lot burial space, in the same cemetery, that is owned
17or partially owned by an owner.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852oz 18Section 2852oz. 157.115 (2) (a) 1. g. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,26,2219 157.115 (2) (a) 1. g. The cemetery authority has not been contacted by an owner
20or assignee or received any other notice or evidence to suggest that an owner or
21assignee intends to use the cemetery lot burial space for a future burial of human
22remains.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pb 23Section 2852pb. 157.115 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,27,224 157.115 (2) (a) 2. "Assignee" means a person who has been assigned in the
25deceased owner's will or in any other legally binding written agreement, or who is

1entitled to receive under ch. 852, an ownership interest in the abandoned cemetery
2lot
space.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pd 3Section 2852pd. 157.115 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,27,64 157.115 (2) (a) 3. "Owner" means a person who, according to the records of the
5cemetery authority of the cemetery in which an abandoned cemetery lot space is
6located, owns or partially owns the abandoned cemetery lot space.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pf 7Section 2852pf. 157.115 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,27,108 157.115 (2) (b) No cemetery authority may resell an abandoned cemetery lot
9space unless the cemetery authority complies with the requirements in this
10subsection or the abandoned space is sold by a trustee under s. 157.117.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852ph 11Section 2852ph. 157.115 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,27,1812 157.115 (2) (c) The cemetery authority shall mail to each owner, at each owner's
13last-known address, a notice of the cemetery authority's intent to resell the
14abandoned cemetery lot space as provided in this subsection. If an owner is buried
15in the cemetery in which the abandoned cemetery lot space is located or if the
16cemetery authority has any other evidence that reasonably supports a
17determination by the cemetery authority that the owner is deceased, no notice is
18required under this paragraph.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pj 19Section 2852pj. 157.115 (2) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,27,2520 157.115 (2) (d) (intro.) If no notice is required under par. (c) or if, within 60 days
21after notice is mailed under par. (c), no owner or assignee contacts the cemetery
22authority to express an intent to use the abandoned cemetery lot space for a future
23burial of human remains, the cemetery authority shall publish in a newspaper of
24general circulation in the county in which the abandoned lot space is located, a class
253 notice under ch. 985 that includes all of the following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pL
1Section 2852pL. 157.115 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,28,22 157.115 (2) (d) 1. The location of the abandoned lot space.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pn 3Section 2852pn. 157.115 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,28,64 157.115 (2) (d) 3. A statement that, unless an owner or assignee contacts the
5cemetery authority within the period specified in par. (e), the cemetery authority
6intends to resell the abandoned lot space as provided in this subsection.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pp 7Section 2852pp. 157.115 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,28,148 157.115 (2) (e) If within 60 days after notice is published under par. (c) no owner
9or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express an intent to use the
10abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the cemetery authority
11shall bring an action in the circuit court of the county in which the abandoned lot
12space is located for a judgment that the cemetery lot burial space is an abandoned
13lot space and an order transferring ownership of the abandoned lot space to the
14cemetery authority.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pr 15Section 2852pr. 157.115 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,28,2416 157.115 (2) (f) If within one year after the circuit court enters a judgment and
17order under par. (e) no owner or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express
18an intent to use the abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the
19cemetery authority may resell the abandoned lot space, except as provided in par. (g).
20The payment of principal shall be deposited into the care fund. Before depositing the
21payment of principal into the care fund, the cemetery authority may retain an
22amount necessary to cover the cemetery authority's administrative and other
23expenses related to the sale, but the amount retained may not exceed 50% of the
24proceeds.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pt 25Section 2852pt. 157.115 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,6
1157.115 (2) (g) If at any time before an abandoned lot space is resold under par.
2(f) an owner or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express an intent to use
3the abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the authority may not
4resell the abandoned lot space, and ownership of the abandoned lot space shall be
5transferred to the owner or assignee. The cemetery authority shall pay all costs of
6transferring ownership under this paragraph.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852pv 7Section 2852pv. 157.115 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,118 157.115 (2) (h) Nothing in this subsection prohibits a cemetery authority from
9seeking the authority to resell more than one abandoned lot space by publishing a
10single class 3 notice under par. (d) or bringing a single action under par. (e) that
11applies to all of the abandoned lots spaces for which such authority is sought.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30, s. 2852px 12Section 2852px. 157.117 of the statutes is created to read:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,14 13157.117 Trustees for certain cemeteries and mausoleums. (1)
14Definitions.
In this section:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,2115 (a) "Cemetery" does not include a cemetery the ownership, control, or
16management of which has been assumed by a municipality. For purposes of this
17paragraph, a municipality is considered to have assumed the ownership, control, or
18management of a cemetery only if the municipality has adopted a resolution or
19enacted an ordinance that has the effect of assuming ownership, control, or
20management of the cemetery. "Cemetery" also does not include a cemetery owned
21and operated by a religious cemetery authority.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,2222 (b) "Local governmental unit" means a municipality or county.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,2423 (c) "Mausoleum" does not include a mausoleum owned and operated by a
24religious cemetery authority.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,29,2525 (d) "Municipality" means a city, village, or town.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,30,1
1(e) "Trustee" means a trustee appointed under sub. (2) (b).
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,30,7 2(2) Appointment of trustee. (a) In response to a petition from the board or
3upon his or her own motion, the attorney general may petition the circuit court for
4the county in which a cemetery or mausoleum is located for the appointment of a
5trustee for the cemetery or mausoleum. If the attorney general petitions the court
6on his or her own motion, the attorney general shall serve a copy of the petition on
7the board and the municipality and county within which the cemetery is located.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,30,148 (b) A court shall schedule a hearing on a petition filed under par. (a) within 90
9days after the petition is filed with the court. If the court finds after a hearing that
10a cemetery or mausoleum is neglected, abandoned, in disuse, improperly
11maintained, or financially unsound, the court shall appoint as a trustee for the
12cemetery or mausoleum a capable and competent person to serve as trustee of the
13cemetery or mausoleum under this section, except that the court may not appoint the
14department or board as a trustee.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,30,2215 (c) An owner of a cemetery or mausoleum may petition the court in a proceeding
16under par. (b) for an order surrendering title to the cemetery or mausoleum to a new
17owner, other than the state, if the owner believes itself to be incapable of continuing
18to operate the cemetery or mausoleum. The court may grant the petition if it finds
19that the cemetery or mausoleum is neglected, abandoned, in disuse, improperly
20maintained, or financially unsound. If the court grants the petition, it shall transfer
21title to the cemetery or mausoleum to the new owner and appoint a trustee under par.
22(b).
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,30,2523 (d) All disputes relating to the appointment of a trustee or the actions of a
24trustee appointed under this section shall be resolved by the court that appointed the
25trustee.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1
1(3) Trustee powers and duties. (a) A trustee shall do each of the following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,32 1. Be responsible for the management, maintenance, and operation of each
3cemetery or mausoleum under trusteeship.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,54 2. Comply with reporting requirements of s. 157.62 (2). A trustee shall provide
5the court with a copy of all reports filed under this subdivision.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,76 3. Provide the court with any additional information, records, or reports that
7the court may direct.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,98 (b) A trustee may petition the court that appointed the trustee for any of the
9following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1110 1. Termination of the trusteeship and reversion of ownership and operation of
11a cemetery or mausoleum to the previous owner.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1312 2. Termination of the trusteeship and transfer of ownership and operation of
13a cemetery or mausoleum to a new owner other than the state.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1514 3. Removal and reinternment of human remains in accordance with the
15requirements of this subchapter.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1716 4. Termination of the trusteeship and closure of a cemetery or mausoleum after
17removal and reinternment of human remains under subd. 3.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,1818 (c) A trustee may do any of the following:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,2119 1. Seek a new owner or operator of a cemetery or mausoleum, other than the
20state, including actively marketing the cemetery or mausoleum and taking any other
21action necessary or useful to effect the sale of the cemetery or mausoleum.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,2222 2. Assess burial spaces for cleaning, care, or improvement under s. 157.11 (7).
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,31,2423 3. Expend funds disbursed from the cemetery management insurance fund for
24the purpose of exercising its powers or carrying out its duties under this section.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,3
14. Employ professional, legal, and technical experts, and any such other
2managers, management personnel, agents, and employees as may be required, to
3exercise the trustee's powers or carry out the trustee's duties under this section.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,54 5. Take any other action necessary or useful to the management or trusteeship
5of a cemetery or mausoleum.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,9 6(4) Department and board powers and duties. (a) From the appropriation
7under s. 20.165 (1) (q), the board shall make disbursements to trustees. The
8department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for
9making the disbursements.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,1110 (b) The department may promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this
11section.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,13 12(5) Termination of trusteeship. A court that appointed a trustee shall
13terminate the trusteeship if any of the following applies:
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,1714 (a) The owner or operator of a cemetery or mausoleum demonstrates to the
15satisfaction of the court that the conditions that necessitated the trusteeship have
16been remedied and that it is competent and capable of managing the cemetery or
17mausoleum.
SB55-ASA1-AA1-AA30,32,2118 (b) The court finds that a new operator is competent and capable of managing
19the cemetery or mausoleum. Upon making a finding under this paragraph, the court
20shall approve the transfer of the management of the cemetery or mausoleum to the
21new operator.
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