AB1-ASA1-AA61,28,116 157.115 (2) (d) (intro.) If no notice is required under par. (c) or if, within 60 days
7after notice is mailed under par. (c), no owner or assignee contacts the cemetery
8authority to express an intent to use the abandoned cemetery lot space for a future
9burial of human remains, the cemetery authority shall publish in a newspaper of
10general circulation in the county in which the abandoned lot space is located, a class
113 notice under ch. 985 that includes all of the following:
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338oL 12Section 338oL. 157.115 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,28,1313 157.115 (2) (d) 1. The location of the abandoned lot space.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338op 14Section 338op. 157.115 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,28,1715 157.115 (2) (d) 3. A statement that, unless an owner or assignee contacts the
16cemetery authority within the period specified in par. (e), the cemetery authority
17intends to resell the abandoned lot space as provided in this subsection.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338ot 18Section 338ot. 157.115 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,28,2519 157.115 (2) (e) If within 60 days after notice is published under par. (c) no owner
20or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express an intent to use the
21abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the cemetery authority
22shall bring an action in the circuit court of the county in which the abandoned lot
23space is located for a judgment that the cemetery lot burial space is an abandoned
24lot space and an order transferring ownership of the abandoned lot space to the
25cemetery authority.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338ox
1Section 338ox. 157.115 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,29,102 157.115 (2) (f) If within one year after the circuit court enters a judgment and
3order under par. (e) no owner or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express
4an intent to use the abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the
5cemetery authority may resell the abandoned lot space, except as provided in par. (g).
6The payment of principal shall be deposited into the care fund. Before depositing the
7payment of principal into the care fund, the cemetery authority may retain an
8amount necessary to cover the cemetery authority's administrative and other
9expenses related to the sale, but the amount retained may not exceed 50% of the
10proceeds.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338pc 11Section 338pc. 157.115 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,29,1712 157.115 (2) (g) If at any time before an abandoned lot space is resold under par.
13(f) an owner or assignee contacts the cemetery authority to express an intent to use
14the abandoned lot space for a future burial of human remains, the authority may not
15resell the abandoned lot space, and ownership of the abandoned lot space shall be
16transferred to the owner or assignee. The cemetery authority shall pay all costs of
17transferring ownership under this paragraph.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338pg 18Section 338pg. 157.115 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,29,2219 157.115 (2) (h) Nothing in this subsection prohibits a cemetery authority from
20seeking the authority to resell more than one abandoned lot space by publishing a
21single class 3 notice under par. (d) or bringing a single action under par. (e) that
22applies to all of the abandoned lots spaces for which such authority is sought.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338pL 23Section 338pL. 157.117 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,29,25 24157.117 Trustees for certain cemeteries and mausoleums. (1)
25Definitions.
In this section:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,7
1(a) "Cemetery" does not include a cemetery the ownership, control, or
2management of which has been assumed by a municipality. For purposes of this
3paragraph, a municipality is considered to have assumed the ownership, control, or
4management of a cemetery only if the municipality has adopted a resolution or
5enacted an ordinance that has the effect of assuming ownership, control, or
6management of the cemetery. "Cemetery" also does not include a cemetery owned
7and operated by a religious cemetery authority.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,88 (b) "Local governmental unit" means a municipality or county.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,109 (c) "Mausoleum" does not include a mausoleum owned and operated by a
10religious cemetery authority.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,1111 (d) "Municipality" means a city, village, or town.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,1212 (e) "Trustee" means a trustee appointed under sub. (2) (b).
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,18 13(2) Appointment of trustee. (a) In response to a petition from the board or
14upon his or her own motion, the attorney general may petition the circuit court for
15the county in which a cemetery or mausoleum is located for the appointment of a
16trustee for the cemetery or mausoleum. If the attorney general petitions the court
17on his or her own motion, the attorney general shall serve a copy of the petition on
18the board and the municipality and county within which the cemetery is located.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,30,2519 (b) A court shall schedule a hearing on a petition filed under par. (a) within 90
20days after the petition is filed with the court. If the court finds after a hearing that
21a cemetery or mausoleum is neglected, abandoned, in disuse, improperly
22maintained, or financially unsound, the court shall appoint as a trustee for the
23cemetery or mausoleum a capable and competent person to serve as trustee of the
24cemetery or mausoleum under this section, except that the court may not appoint the
25department or board as a trustee.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,8
1(c) An owner of a cemetery or mausoleum may petition the court in a proceeding
2under par. (b) for an order surrendering title to the cemetery or mausoleum to a new
3owner, other than the state, if the owner believes itself to be incapable of continuing
4to operate the cemetery or mausoleum. The court may grant the petition if it finds
5that the cemetery or mausoleum is neglected, abandoned, in disuse, improperly
6maintained, or financially unsound. If the court grants the petition, it shall transfer
7title to the cemetery or mausoleum to the new owner and appoint a trustee under par.
8(b).
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,119 (d) All disputes relating to the appointment of a trustee or the actions of a
10trustee appointed under this section shall be resolved by the court that appointed the
11trustee.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,12 12(3) Trustee powers and duties. (a) A trustee shall do each of the following:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,1413 1. Be responsible for the management, maintenance, and operation of each
14cemetery or mausoleum under trusteeship.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,1615 2. Comply with reporting requirements of s. 157.62 (2). A trustee shall provide
16the court with a copy of all reports filed under this subdivision.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,1817 3. Provide the court with any additional information, records, or reports that
18the court may direct.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,2019 (b) A trustee may petition the court that appointed the trustee for any of the
20following:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,2221 1. Termination of the trusteeship and reversion of ownership and operation of
22a cemetery or mausoleum to the previous owner.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,31,2423 2. Termination of the trusteeship and transfer of ownership and operation of
24a cemetery or mausoleum to a new owner other than the state.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,2
13. Removal and reinternment of human remains in accordance with the
2requirements of this subchapter.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,43 4. Termination of the trusteeship and closure of a cemetery or mausoleum after
4removal and reinternment of human remains under subd. 3.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,55 (c) A trustee may do any of the following:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,86 1. Seek a new owner or operator of a cemetery or mausoleum, other than the
7state, including actively marketing the cemetery or mausoleum and taking any other
8action necessary or useful to effect the sale of the cemetery or mausoleum.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,99 2. Assess burial spaces for cleaning, care, or improvement under s. 157.11 (7).
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,1110 3. Expend funds disbursed from the cemetery management insurance fund for
11the purpose of exercising its powers or carrying out its duties under this section.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,1412 4. Employ professional, legal, and technical experts, and any such other
13managers, management personnel, agents, and employees as may be required, to
14exercise the trustee's powers or carry out the trustee's duties under this section.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,1615 5. Take any other action necessary or useful to the management or trusteeship
16of a cemetery or mausoleum.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,20 17(4) Department and board powers and duties. (a) From the appropriation
18under s. 20.165 (1) (q), the board shall make disbursements to trustees. The
19department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for
20making the disbursements.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,2221 (b) The department may promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this
22section.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,32,24 23(5) Termination of trusteeship. A court that appointed a trustee shall
24terminate the trusteeship if any of the following applies:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,33,4
1(a) The owner or operator of a cemetery or mausoleum demonstrates to the
2satisfaction of the court that the conditions that necessitated the trusteeship have
3been remedied and that it is competent and capable of managing the cemetery or
4mausoleum.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,33,85 (b) The court finds that a new operator is competent and capable of managing
6the cemetery or mausoleum. Upon making a finding under this paragraph, the court
7shall approve the transfer of the management of the cemetery or mausoleum to the
8new operator.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,33,119 (c) The court approves the sale or transfer of a cemetery or mausoleum to a new
10owner, other than the state, that the court finds is capable and competent to manage
11the cemetery or mausoleum on a financially sound basis.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,33,1312 (d) The court approves the closure of a cemetery or mausoleum after all human
13remains have been removed and reinterred.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338pp 14Section 338pp. 157.12 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,34,2315 157.12 (2) (b) The department shall supervise construction of any public
16mausoleum and conversion of any building to a public mausoleum. Within 30 days
17after receiving written notice from the cemetery authority that the construction or
18conversion has been completed, the department shall inspect the public mausoleum
19and provide the cemetery authority with a written certification as to whether the
20construction or conversion complies with approved plans. If the department
21determines that, except for certain minor defects, the construction or conversion
22complies with the approved plans, the department may provide the cemetery
23authority with a written temporary certification of compliance that is contingent on
24the correction of those minor defects. A temporary certification is valid for a period
25designated by the department, not to exceed 6 months. No person may sell a

1mausoleum space, except an undeveloped space that is sold in accordance with s. ss.
2440.92 and 440.922, or bury human remains in a public mausoleum unless a care
3fund has been established for the mausoleum under sub. (3) and the department has
4provided the cemetery authority with a certification or a temporary certification
5under this paragraph. If a cemetery authority that has been provided with a
6temporary certification notifies the department in writing before the date on which
7the temporary certification expires that the defects in the construction or conversion
8of the public mausoleum have been corrected, the department shall, within 30 days
9after receiving the notice, reinspect the public mausoleum and provide the cemetery
10authority with a written certification as to whether the construction or conversion
11complies with the approved plans. If a cemetery authority that has been provided
12with a temporary certification does not receive a written certification from the
13department before the date on which the temporary certification expires that the
14construction or conversion complies with the approved plans, then, beginning on the
15date on which the certification expires, no person may sell a mausoleum space, except
16an undeveloped space that is sold in accordance with s. ss. 440.92 and 440.922, or
17bury human remains in the public mausoleum until the defects are corrected and the
18department subsequently inspects the public mausoleum and provides the cemetery
19authority with a certification that the construction or conversion complies with the
20approved plans. The department may charge a reasonable fee to the cemetery
21authority for each inspection and certification provided under this paragraph if the
22inspection and certification are provided within the applicable 30-day period
23prescribed under this paragraph.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338pt 24Section 338pt. 157.12 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,35,16
1157.12 (3) (b) The cemetery's treasurer is the custodian of the fund. The
2treasurer shall file with the cemetery, at the cemetery's expense, a bond with sureties
3approved by the department of regulation and licensing to indemnify the cemetery
4against loss if the treasurer fails to maintain the fund. The amount of the bond shall
5be no less than the total of all payments of principal required under this section as
6stated in the most recent annual report filed by the cemetery authority under s.
7157.62.
No indemnity is required if the terms of sale of a mausoleum space require
8the purchaser to pay directly to a trust company in the state, designated by the
9cemetery as custodian of the fund. The fund shall be invested as provided in s.
10157.19, and the manner in which the care funds are invested may not permit the
11withdrawal of the fund's principal amount, but may permit the withdrawal of
12interest, dividends, or capital gains earned during the most recently completed
13calendar year
. Income from investment may be used only to maintain the
14mausoleum, except that if the amount of income exceeds the amount necessary to
15properly maintain the mausoleum the excess amount may be used to maintain any
16portion of the cemetery.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338p 17Section 338p. 157.125 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,35,19 18157.125 (title) Trustees for the care of cemeteries or cemetery lots
19burial spaces.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qc 20Section 338qc. 157.125 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,35,25 21157.125 (2) If the burial place or grave is located in a cemetery owned and
22operated by a religious society organized under ch. 187 cemetery authority, the court
23shall name the religious society cemetery authority as the trustee unless the
24religious society cemetery authority petitions the court to name the county treasurer
25as the trustee.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qg
1Section 338qg. 157.128 (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,36,32 157.128 (2) (a) The cemetery is owned by a religious association cemetery
3authority
.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,36,54 (b) The religious association cemetery authority is responsible for all liabilities
5of the cemetery.
AB1-ASA1-AA61,36,76 (c) The total acreage of all other cemeteries owned by the religious association
7cemetery authority exceeds 20 acres.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qL 8Section 338qL. 157.128 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,36,119 157.128 (3) (b) A cemetery consisting of less than 20 contiguous acres may be
10dedicated by a cemetery authority that is not required to be registered licensed under
11s. 440.91 (1) and that is not organized or conducted for pecuniary profit.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qp 12Section 338qp. 157.19 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,36,2513 157.19 (2) (c) Upon request of the financial institution, the preneed seller, as
14defined in s. 440.90 (8), shall furnish the financial institution with a copy of the
15preneed sales contract. Except as provided in s. 440.92 (2) (c), (f) and (j) and (5) ss.
16440.922 (3), (5) (c), and (8), and 440.924
, preneed trust funds, and any interest or
17dividends that have accumulated on the preneed trust funds, may not be withdrawn
18until all obligations under the preneed sales contract have been fulfilled. The
19financial institution is not responsible for the fulfillment of any part of the preneed
20sales contract, except that the financial institution shall release the preneed trust
21funds, and any interest or dividends that have accumulated on the preneed trust
22funds, as provided by the terms of the preneed sales contract. The trustee of a
23preneed trust fund may not be changed without the department's written approval.
24If the trustee or account number of a preneed trust fund is changed, the cemetery
25authority shall notify the department in writing within 30 days after the change.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qt
1Section 338qt. 157.19 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,37,112 157.19 (4m) The department shall request proposals from financial
3institutions located in this state for the purpose of selecting a financial institution
4that cemetery authorities and preneed sellers may use as the trustee for care funds
5under s. 157.11 (9g) and 157.12 (3) and preneed trust funds under s. 440.92. Except
6as provided in sub. (5) (c), a cemetery authority or preneed seller is not required to
7use the financial institution selected by the department. The financial institution
8selected under this subsection shall submit an annual report to the department, in
9a form and manner satisfactory to the department, that provides an accounting of
10all care funds and preneed trust funds for which the financial institution is the
11trustee.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338qx 12Section 338qx. 157.19 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,37,1913 157.19 (5) (a) This section does not apply to care funds under s. 157.11 (9g) that
14are deposited with a city or county as provided under s. 157.11 (9g) (a), to care funds
15of a cemetery for which a certification under s. 157.63 is effective, or to preneed trust
16funds of a cemetery for which a certification under s. 440.92 (9) is effective, or to care
17funds or preneed trust funds of a cemetery authority that is not required to be
18registered under s. 440.91 (1) and that is not organized or conducted for pecuniary
19profit
.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rc 20Section 338rc. 157.19 (5) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,38,221 157.19 (5) (c) If the department determines that a cemetery authority or
22preneed seller has violated any requirement under this subchapter or subch. VIII of
23ch. 440 relating to care funds under s. 157.11 (9g) and 157.12 (3) or preneed trust
24funds under s. 440.92, the department may require the cemetery authority or

1preneed seller to use the financial institution selected under sub. (4m) as the trustee
2for the care funds or preneed trust funds.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rg 3Section 338rg. 157.60 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,38,12 4157.60 Public easement in cemetery. Any person who shall open or make
5any highway, town way, or private way or shall construct any railroad, turnpike, or
6canal or anything in the nature of a public easement over, through, in, or upon such
7part of any enclosure, being the property of any town, city, village , or religious society
8cemetery authority or of private proprietors, as may be used for the burial of the dead,
9unless an authority for that purpose shall be specially granted by law or unless the
10consent of such town, city, village, religious society cemetery authority, or private
11proprietors, respectively, shall be first obtained, shall be punished by imprisonment
12in the county jail not more than one year or by fine not exceeding $300.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rL 13Section 338rL. 157.61 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,38,18 14157.61 Identification of human remains. A person may not provide an
15outer burial container or, if an outer burial container is not used, a casket, to a
16cemetery authority, other than a religious cemetery authority, for the burial of
17human remains, unless the person identifies the decedent by name on the exterior
18of the outer burial container or casket.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rp 19Section 338rp. 157.62 (1) (a) (intro.), (b) and (c) of the statutes are repealed.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rt 20Section 338rt. 157.62 (1) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are renumbered
21157.62 (2) (b) 7. a., b., c., d. and e.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338rx 22Section 338rx. 157.62 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,423 157.62 (2) (a) Except as provided in ss. 157.625 and 157.63 (1), every Every
24cemetery authority that is licensed under s. 440.91 (1) and, except as provided in s.
25157.63 (1), every cemetery authority that is a religious cemetery authority
shall file

1an annual report with the department. The report shall be made on a form
2prescribed and furnished by the department. The report shall be made on a
3calendar-year basis unless the department, by rule, provides for other reporting
4periods. The report is due on the 60th day after the last day of the reporting period.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338sc 5Section 338sc. 157.62 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,76 157.62 (2) (b) 1. A copy of any report required under sub. (1) (a) or s. 180.1622
7or 181.1622.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338sg 8Section 338sg. 157.62 (2) (b) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,109 157.62 (2) (b) 1m. The percentage of burial spaces at the cemetery that are
10available for sale.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338sL 11Section 338sL. 157.62 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,1312 157.62 (2) (b) 2. If the cemetery authority is required to file a report under s.
13180.1622 or 181.1622, the information specified in sub. (1) (a) 3 subd. 7. c.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338sp 14Section 338sp. 157.62 (2) (b) 7. of the statutes is renumbered 157.62 (2) (b) 7.
15(intro.) and amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,1816 157.62 (2) (b) 7. (intro.) The information specified in sub. (1) (a), to the extent
17applicable, if
If the cemetery is not required to file a report under sub. (1) (a) or s.
18180.1622 or 181.1622.
authority is a cemetery association, all of the following:
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338st 19Section 338st. 157.62 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,39,2520 157.62 (3) (a) Every cemetery authority shall keep a copy of the report required
21under sub. (2) (a) at its principal place of business and, except for those records
22relating to accountings of trust funds described under sub. (2) (b) 3. to 7., shall make
23the report available for inspection, upon reasonable notice, by any person with an
24interest in a cemetery lot or a mausoleum burial space in a cemetery owned or
25operated by the cemetery authority.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338sx
1Section 338sx. 157.62 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA1-AA61,40,32 157.62 (3) (b) 3. A copy of each contract for the sale of a cemetery lot,
3mausoleum
burial space or cemetery merchandise.
AB1-ASA1-AA61, s. 338tc 4Section 338tc. 157.62 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
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