BILL NUMBER:  S2516

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to voluntary
assistance to public cemetery corporations


 PURPOSE :
This bill would allow municipal corporations to voluntarily provide
municipal services and/or limited funding to a public not-for-profit
cemetery corporation. Such actions provide the opportunity to keep the
public grounds operating and prevent them from becoming the sole
responsibility of the municipalities in which they are located.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
This bill amends Article 8 of the General Municipal Law by adding a
new section 165-a to allow municipal corporations to appropriate and
provide funding and/or services to a public cemetery corporation.
Section 2 of this bill states that this bill shall be effective
immediately.

 EXISTING LAW :
While section 165 of the General Municipal Law allows for the creation
of a volunteer cemetery clean-up program to be run by municipalities,
there is no clear authority to provide goods and/or services.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :
Under current law, municipalities are responsible for assuming the
maintenance and preservation of not-for-profit cemeteries that become
abandoned within their borders. This situation may lead to a
significant long-term revenue drain local governments.

Municipalities have expressed an interest in being proactive in these
situations to assist these not-for-profit burial grounds from becoming
abandoned and in disrepair. These municipal actions may delay or
eliminate the burial ground from becoming abandoned and a tax burden.

Actions that have been proposed include grading roadways to increase
accessibility to cemetery grounds for burials and providing assistance
for lawn care and general maintenance.

However, without clear statutory authority, municipal corporations
have limited ability to provide these services. This bill would
provide a mechanism to allow for these services.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.