S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4219
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 2, 2011
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Introduced by M. of A. WEISENBERG, COLTON, ROBINSON, COOK, REILLY, MILL-
MAN, CYMBROWITZ, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRON, BREN-
NAN, CALHOUN, HOOPER, JAFFEE, MAISEL, MARKEY, MAYERSOHN, McENENY,
McKEVITT, MENG, RABBITT, J. RIVERA, TITONE, TOBACCO -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law, in relation to a
cemetery customer's bill of rights
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 1510 of the not-for-profit corporation law is
amended by adding a new paragraph (n) to read as follows:
(N) POSTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CEMETERY CUSTOMER'S BILL OF
RIGHTS. (1) THE CEMETERY CUSTOMER'S BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL BE CONSPICUOUS-
LY POSTED BY THE CORPORATION IN EACH OF ITS OFFICES. A COPY SHALL BE
PROVIDED TO EACH PERSON AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY FACE-TO-FACE DISCUSSION
ABOUT ARRANGING FOR AN INTERMENT OR PURCHASING INTERMENT RIGHTS OR ANY
OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CEMETERY. ADDITIONALLY, A COPY
OF SUCH BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL BE GIVEN TO ANY PERSON UPON REQUEST.
(2) THE CEMETERY CUSTOMER'S BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL BE ESSENTIALLY IN THE
FOLLOWING FORM.
CEMETERY CUSTOMER'S BILL OF RIGHTS
ALL NEW YORK CEMETERIES ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT. THIS CEMETERY (NAME,
ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER) IS REGULATED BY THE NYS DIVISION OF CEME-
TERIES. THE NEAREST OFFICE IS LOCATED AT: (ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER,
E-MAIL ADDRESS).
WHEN YOU BUY CEMETERY PROPERTY, YOU ARE BUYING THE RIGHT TO INTERMENT,
NOT AN ACTUAL PIECE OF LAND. WHEN YOU SELL CEMETERY PROPERTY, IT MUST
FIRST BE OFFERED BACK TO THE CEMETERY. THE MINIMUM PRICE THE CEMETERY
MUST PAY TO BUY BACK THE PROPERTY IS SET BY LAW. YOU CAN ALSO GIFT YOUR
RIGHT TO INTERMENT IF YOU ARE THE LOT OWNER.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04097-01-1
A. 4219 2
YOU CAN BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO INTERMENT ONLY FOR NON-PAYMENT OF THE
TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE, NON-PAYMENT OF INTERMENT PRICE OR NON-PAYMENT OF A
TAX AUTHORIZED BY THE CEMETERY BOARD.
THOUGH NEW YORK LAW DOES REQUIRE THAT A CONTAINER OR WRAPPINGS USED
FOR CREMATION BE NON-METAL, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE EMBALMING FOR INTERMENT
(BURIAL, ENTOMBMENT OR PLACEMENT OF CREMAINS IN A NICHE OR GRAVE). NEW
YORK LAW DOES NOT LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREMATION URNS THAT CAN BE PLACED
IN A GRAVE. NEW YORK LAW ALSO DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY PARTICULAR TYPE OF
CASKET OR EXTERNAL WRAPPINGS FOR BURIAL OR PLACEMENT IN A MAUSOLEUM
CRYPT. NOR DOES IT RESTRICT THE TYPE OF CONTAINER USED TO PLACE ASHES IN
A NICHE OR GRAVE.
NEW YORK LAW REQUIRES THAT RULES AND REGULATIONS OF A CEMETERY BE
REASONABLE AND THAT THEY HAVE WRITTEN CEMETERY BOARD APPROVAL. NEW YORK
LAW REQUIRES THAT A WRITTEN CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OR USE OF A LOT, PLOT
OR PART THEREOF SHALL HAVE ATTACHED THERETO AND MADE A PART THEREOF A
COPY OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CEMETERY CORPORATION OR SUCH
PARTS OF SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS RELATE TO THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT
OF MONUMENTS, RESTRICTIONS ON PLOT USAGE, WARRANTIES, OBLIGATIONS OF THE
CEMETERY CORPORATION AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF THE LOT
OWNER.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT:
1. TO A COPY OF THE CURRENT LIST OF PRICES AND CHARGES OF THE CEMETERY
FOR A SMALL FEE.
2. TO HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR PURCHASE CONTRACT AND DEED ANY CEMETERY
BOARD APPROVED RESTRICTIONS ON THE TYPE OF CONTAINER USED FOR BURIAL OR
PLACEMENT OF ASHES IN A NICHE OR GRAVE.
3. TO HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR PURCHASE CONTRACT AND DEED ANY CEMETERY
BOARD APPROVED REQUIREMENTS FOR MAUSOLEUM CRYPT ENTOMBMENT SUCH AS
EMBALMING, SPECIAL CASKETS OR IN-CRYPT BAGS OR TRAYS.
4. TO HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR PURCHASE CONTRACT AND DEED ANY CEMETERY
BOARD APPROVED RESTRICTIONS ON THE TYPE OF MONUMENT OR MARKER THAT CAN
BE PLACED ON THE GRAVE, NICHE OR MAUSOLEUM CRYPT.
5. TO BE NOTIFIED OF ANY RULES, RESTRICTIONS OR CHARGES THAT APPLY TO
MARKERS OR MONUMENTS PURCHASED ELSEWHERE.
6. TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT "PERPETUAL CARE" MEANS INCLUDING WHETHER
IT IS REQUIRED OR OPTIONAL.
7. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE ALL CONTRACTS INCLUDING PURCHASE AND
PERPETUAL CARE CONTRACTS REVIEWED BY A LAWYER BEFORE SIGNING.
8. TO CHOOSE A CONCRETE LINER, IF AN OUTER BURIAL CONTAINER IS
REQUIRED FOR BURIAL IN A GRAVE PURCHASED AFTER 1/1/85. THIS REQUIREMENT
MUST BE WAIVED FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.
9. TO HAVE MONEY PAID FOR A GRAVE LINER PRE-NEED HELD IN TRUST.
10. TO BE NOTIFIED OF ANY RESTRICTIONS AND CHARGES RELATIVE TO PLANT-
INGS.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.