S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8738
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 5, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. OBERACKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  executive  law,  in relation to establishing an
   adopt-a-rural cemetery program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 144-b
 to read as follows:
   § 144-B. ADOPT-A-RURAL CEMETERY PROGRAM. 1.  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE
 SHALL  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT  AN  ADOPT-A-RURAL  CEMETERY  PROGRAM THE
 PURPOSES OF WHICH SHALL INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO,  IMPROVING,
 REPAIRING,  AND  MAINTAINING  CEMETERIES  IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHICH ARE
 REGISTERED WITH AND OVERSEEN BY  THE  DIVISION  OF  CEMETERIES  AND  ARE
 LOCATED  IN ANY MUNICIPALITY EXCEPT IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE
 MILLION OR MORE INHABITANTS.  A MUNICIPALITY MAY OPT TO  PARTICIPATE  IN
 THE PROGRAM.  THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  COORDINATING  SERVICES BY VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS TO IMPROVE, REPAIR
 AND MAINTAIN CEMETERIES; AND
   (B) PROVIDING  AND  INSTALLING  APPROPRIATE  SIGNS  IDENTIFYING  THOSE
 VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL CEMETERIES.
   2.  (A)  SIGNS  DESCRIBED  IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION MUST:
   (I) BE PLACED AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CEMETERY ALONGSIDE OR  BELOW
 ANY EXISTING CEMETERY SIGNAGE;
   (II)  MATCH  AND CONFORM TO THE STYLE, COLOR, TYPE, FONT, AND LIKENESS
 OF ANY EXISTING CEMETERY SIGNAGE, INCLUDING  ANY  HISTORIC  PRESERVATION
 REQUIREMENTS;
   (III) BE DEVOID OF ANY CORPORATE LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, AND IMAGES;
   (IV)  BE  LIMITED  IN  SIZE TO NO MORE THAN HALF THE DIMENSIONS OF THE
 LARGEST EXISTING CEMETERY SIGNAGE AT THE LOCATION IN WHICH IT  SHALL  BE
 PLACED; AND
   (V) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE MAY ADD.
   (B)  IF THERE IS NO EXISTING SIGNAGE AT A CEMETERY, THE SIGN FOR IDEN-
 TIFYING THOSE VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL  CEMETERIES
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14571-01-4
 S. 8738                             2
 
 SHALL  BE CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW THE CEMETERY CORPORATION OR
 MUNICIPALITY WHICH OWNS THE CEMETERY SHALL SEE FIT BUT SHALL  BE  DEVOID
 OF ANY CORPORATE LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, AND IMAGES.
   3.  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE
 RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT  AND  CARRY  OUT   THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A)  THE  NUMBER  OF YEARS THAT VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS MAY ADOPT A RURAL
 CEMETERY; AND
   (B) THE REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO  BE  THE
 ADOPTER OF A CEMETERY.
   4.  THE  PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN
 THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT  OF  MAINTENANCE  AND  THE
 DESIGNING,  CONSTRUCTION,  AND  INSTALLATION  OF THE SIGNAGE IDENTIFYING
 THOSE VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL CEMETERIES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.