LRB-2549/3
MPG:cjs
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
October 9, 2015 - Introduced by Senators LeMahieu,
Lazich and Wirch,
cosponsored by Representatives
Sanfelippo, Allen, Bernier, R. Brooks,
Kleefisch, Ohnstad, Tittl and Novak. Referred to Committee on Elections
and Local Government.
SB302,2,16
1An Act to repeal 157.061 (5), 157.061 (7), 157.07 (6), 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. b., 157.62
2(3) (b) 2., 157.625 (2) and 440.91 (1) (c) 2.;
to renumber and amend 157.061
3(12), 157.061 (13), 157.10, 157.12 (4), 157.62 (5), 440.90 (7), 440.90 (8), 440.90
4(9), 440.91 (1) (c) 1. and 979.10 (1) (c);
to amend 15.07 (1) (cs), 15.405 (3m) (d),
571.07 (5r) (a) 3., 71.28 (5r) (a) 3., 71.47 (5r) (a) 3., 157.061 (3), 157.061 (4),
6157.061 (11r), 157.061 (14), 157.061 (15), 157.062 (1), 157.062 (2), 157.062 (6)
7(b), 157.062 (6m), 157.062 (9), 157.064 (6), 157.064 (7), 157.07 (1), 157.07 (4),
8157.08 (2) (b), 157.08 (5), 157.10 (title), 157.11 (2), 157.11 (9g) (a) 1. c., 157.11
9(9g) (a) 2., 157.11 (9g) (c), 157.11 (9m), 157.11 (10), 157.112 (3m), 157.115 (2) (a)
101. (intro.), 157.115 (2) (a) 3., 157.115 (2) (b), 157.115 (2) (c), 157.115 (2) (d)
11(intro.), 157.12 (title), 157.12 (2) (a), 157.12 (2) (b), 157.12 (3) (a) 3., 157.12 (3)
12(b), 157.125 (1), 157.125 (2), 157.19 (5) (a), 157.19 (5) (b), 157.60, 157.62 (1) (a)
13(intro.), 157.62 (1) (c), 157.62 (2) (d), 157.62 (4), 157.62 (6), 157.62 (7), 157.63
14(title), 157.63 (1), 157.63 (2) (intro.), 157.63 (2) (b), 157.63 (5), 157.635, 157.637,
1157.64 (2) (intro.) and (a), 157.65 (1) (a), 157.65 (1) (b), 157.65 (2), 440.90 (3),
2440.90 (14), 440.91 (1) (a), 440.91 (1m) (a), 440.91 (2) (intro.), 440.91 (2) (d),
3440.91 (3), 440.91 (4), 440.91 (10), 440.92 (1) (a), 440.92 (1) (b) 1., 440.92 (1) (b)
43., 440.92 (1) (b) 4., 440.92 (1) (c), 440.92 (2) (a) (intro.), 440.92 (2) (d), 440.92
5(3) (c) 3., 440.92 (6) (j), 440.92 (9) (title), 440.92 (9) (a), 440.92 (9) (b) (intro.),
6440.92 (9) (b) 2., 440.92 (9) (b) 3., 440.92 (9) (d), 440.92 (9) (e), 440.92 (9) (f),
7440.93 (2), 440.945 (5) (a), 440.945 (5) (b), 440.947 (5), 440.95 (3), 440.95 (4)
8(intro.), 815.18 (3) (a) and 895.04 (5); and
to create 157.061 (1p), 157.10 (1),
9157.10 (2) (a) 1. to 4., 157.10 (2) (b), 157.10 (3), 157.10 (6), 157.10 (7), 157.62 (2)
10(b) 6m., 157.62 (3) (b) 2g., 157.62 (3) (b) 2r., 157.62 (5) (a) to (j), 182.0175 (2) (c)
11and 440.97 of the statutes;
relating to: powers and duties of cemetery
12authorities; inheritance of cemetery lots in which human remains are buried;
13exemption of cemeteries from certain requirements concerning excavation; the
14powers and duties of the Cemetery Board, the Department of Safety and
15Professional Services, and the Department of Financial institutions; requiring
16the exercise of rule-making authority; and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes a number of changes to laws concerning cemeteries, including
the following:
Transfers of functions to the Cemetery Board.
Under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
and the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) administer certain laws
governing cemeteries not currently administered by the Cemetery Board (board).
The laws administered by DSPS include the following:
1. The construction of mausoleums.
2. Various reporting requirements for cemetery authorities.
3. The certification of certain cemetery authorities as religious associations,
which are subject, in part, to different rules than other cemetery authorities.
4. The audit of a cemetery authority's records, trust funds, and accounts.
5. The licensure and regulation of cemetery salespersons.
6. The licensure and regulation of preneed sellers, the regulation of preneed
sales contracts, and the regulation and audit of preneed trust funds.
7. The promulgation of certain rules implementing laws concerning cemeteries
and the enforcement of those rules and laws.
With limited exceptions, the bill transfers the administration of the laws
governing cemeteries currently administered by DSPS, including all of the functions
specified above, to the board.
Under current law, seven or more residents of a county may form a cemetery
association for the election of trustees to manage cemetery land owned by the
cemetery association. A cemetery association is also a kind of cemetery authority.
Currently, the organization and certain other aspects, including reporting
requirements, of a cemetery association's functions are governed by DFI. The bill
transfers all regulation of cemetery associations from DFI to the board.
Disposition of occupied cemetery lots and mausoleum spaces.
Under current law, ownership of a cemetery lot in which human remains are
buried may not be transferred to another person who is not already an owner of the
cemetery lot, unless the cemetery authority consents to the transfer. Upon the death
of the owner of a cemetery lot, ownership descends to the owner's heirs. Current law
does not specify who qualifies as an heir.
This bill establishes specific rules for the disposition of a cemetery lot or
mausoleum space in which human remains are buried. Under the bill, upon the
death of the last owner of a cemetery lot or mausoleum space, ownership of the
cemetery lot or mausoleum space descends as follows:
1. To the owner's surviving spouse or domestic partner.
2. If there is no living spouse or domestic partner, to the owner's children.
3. If there is no living spouse, domestic partner, or child, to the owner's
grandchildren.
4. If there is no living spouse, domestic partner, child, or grandchild, to the
cemetery authority for the cemetery in which the cemetery lot or mausoleum space
is located.
The bill provides that a cemetery authority is to be held harmless for any
decision made by a majority of the owners of a cemetery lot or mausoleum space.
Changes to cemetery authority licensure requirements.
The board licenses cemetery authorities. Under current law, subject to certain
exceptions, a cemetery authority must be licensed for each cemetery the cemetery
authority operates that is at least five acres in size or for which the cemetery
authority has at least $100,000 in trust fund accounts or sells at least 20 cemetery
lots or mausoleum spaces in one year. A cemetery authority must be registered for
any cemetery the cemetery authority operates that does not satisfy at least one of
those conditions.
Under the bill, subject to certain exceptions, a cemetery authority must be
licensed for each cemetery it operates that has at least three acres of land platted for
use as a cemetery or for which the cemetery has at least $50,000 in trust fund
accounts. A cemetery authority must be registered for each cemetery it operates that
does not satisfy at least one of those conditions. The bill also eliminates an option
for a cemetery authority to be relieved of its obligation to renew a license under
certain circumstances.
Changes to cemetery salesperson licensure requirements.
The board also licenses cemetery salespersons. Under current law, with one
exception, an individual must be a licensed cemetery salesperson if the individual
sells or solicits the sale of, or expects to sell or solicit the sale of, 20 or more cemetery
lots or mausoleum spaces per year for two consecutive years. Under the bill, an
individual must be a licensed cemetery salesperson if the individual sells or solicits
the sale of, or expects to sell or solicit the sale of, a cemetery lot or mausoleum space,
without regard to the quantity or frequency of sales.
Religious associations.
Under current law a cemetery authority that is a church, synagogue, or mosque,
or a religious society organized under Wisconsin law, is a religious association for
purposes of the laws governing cemeteries. Under the bill, a religious association
also includes any corporation whose articles of organization provide, subject to
Wisconsin law, that the corporation is under the supervision and control of a church,
synagogue, mosque, or religious society.
Also under the bill, certain exemptions from the laws governing cemeteries that
are applicable to a religious association are also applicable to a cemetery authority
of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association, for that cemetery.
No deposit of care funds with county or city.
Current law regulates how a cemetery authority may deposit or invest funds
it receives in trust for the care of a cemetery. One option under current law
authorizes a cemetery authority to deposit the care funds with the treasurer of the
county or city in which the cemetery is located. The bill eliminates that option for
the deposit of care funds.
Changes to certain penalties.
Under current law, any person who opens or makes any highway, town way, or
private way or constructs anything in the nature of a public easement over, through,
in, or upon a cemetery, unless authorized by consent or by law, is punishable by a fine
not to exceed $300 or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year. Under
the bill, such a violation is punishable by a fine not to exceed $3,000 and by
imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year.
The bill also increases the potential fine for certain violations of the laws
governing cemeteries, including laws governing preneed sellers and the investment
of preneed trust funds, from $1,000 to $5,000 for a first offense, and the bill provides
that a subsequent violation of such laws is punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000
or imprisonment not to exceed nine months or both.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB302,1
1Section
1. 15.07 (1) (cs) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,5,42
15.07
(1) (cs) No member of the auctioneer board
, cemetery board, or real estate
3appraisers board may be an officer, director, or employee of a private organization
4that promotes or furthers any profession or occupation regulated by that board.
SB302,2
5Section
2. 15.405 (3m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,5,76
15.405
(3m) (d) No member of the cemetery board may serve more than 2
7consecutive terms.
SB302,3
8Section
3. 71.07 (5r) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,5,119
71.07
(5r) (a) 3. "Family member"
has the meaning given in s. 157.061 (7) 10means a spouse or an individual related by blood, marriage, or adoption within the
113rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 990.001 (16).
SB302,4
12Section
4. 71.28 (5r) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,5,1413
71.28
(5r) (a) 3. "Family member" has the meaning given in s.
157.061 (7) 71.07
14(5r) (a) 3.
SB302,5
15Section
5. 71.47 (5r) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,5,1716
71.47
(5r) (a) 3. "Family member" has the meaning given in s.
157.061 (7) 71.07
17(5r) (a) 3.
SB302,6
18Section
6. 157.061 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:
SB302,5,2019
157.061
(1p) "Cemetery" means any land, including any mausoleum on the
20land, that is used or intended to be used, exclusively for the burial of human remains.
SB302,7
21Section
7. 157.061 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,6,6
1157.061
(3) "Cemetery
services and merchandise" means goods associated with
2the burial of human remains, including monuments, markers, nameplates, vases
, 3and urns, and any services that are associated with supplying or delivering those
4goods or with the burial of human remains
, including the burial or entombment, and
5that may be lawfully provided by a cemetery authority. The term does not include
6caskets or outer burial containers.
SB302,8
7Section
8. 157.061 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,6,98
157.061
(4) "Dedicated" means platted
for use exclusively as a cemetery
and
9qualified for the exemption from general property taxes under s. 70.11 (13).
SB302,9
10Section
9. 157.061 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
SB302,10
11Section
10. 157.061 (7) of the statutes is repealed.
SB302,11
12Section
11. 157.061 (11r) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,6,1813
157.061
(11r) "Payment of principal" means the portion of a payment for the
14purchase of a cemetery lot, cemetery
services and merchandise
, or a mausoleum
15space that represents the principal amount owed by the purchaser for the cemetery
16lot, cemetery
services and merchandise
, or mausoleum space, and does not include
17any portion of the payment that represents any taxes, finance or interest charges
,
18administrative fees, or insurance premiums.
SB302,12
19Section
12. 157.061 (12) of the statutes is renumbered 157.061 (3g) and
20amended to read:
SB302,6,2421
157.061
(3g) "Preneed sales contract" means an agreement for the sale of
22cemetery
services and merchandise that is to be delivered after the date of the initial
23payment for the
cemetery services and merchandise, or for the sale of an undeveloped
24space.
SB302,13
1Section
13. 157.061 (13) of the statutes is renumbered 157.061 (3r) and
2amended to read:
SB302,7,53
157.061
(3r) "Preneed trust fund" means an account or other investment in
4which a portion of the
proceeds cemetery services and merchandise received under
5a preneed sales contract is deposited.
SB302,14
6Section
14. 157.061 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,7,97
157.061
(14) "Public mausoleum" means a mausoleum
that holds or is intended
8to hold more than 10 human remains or a mausoleum in which at least one
9mausoleum space is offered for sale to the general public.
SB302,15
10Section
15. 157.061 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,7,1411
157.061
(15) "Religious association" means any church, synagogue
, or mosque
12or; any religious society organized under ch. 187
; and any corporation whose articles
13of organization provide, subject to s. 182.030, that it shall be under the supervision
14and control of a church, synagogue, mosque, or religious society.
SB302,16
15Section
16. 157.062 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB302,8,216
157.062
(1) Organization. Seven or more residents of the same county may
17form a cemetery association. They shall meet, select a chairperson and secretary,
18choose a name, fix the annual meeting date, and elect by ballot not less than 3 nor
19more than 9 trustees whom the chairperson and secretary shall immediately divide
20by lot into 3 classes, who shall hold their offices for 1, 2
, and 3 years, respectively.
21Within 3 days, the chairperson and secretary shall certify the corporate name, the
22names, home addresses
, and business addresses of the organizers and of the
23trustees, and their classification, and the annual meeting date acknowledged by
24them, and, except as provided in sub. (9), deliver the certification to the
department
1of financial institutions cemetery board. The association then has the powers of a
2corporation.
SB302,17
3Section
17. 157.062 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: