HB2968 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 29552 AMQ 55947 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2968

Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Christopher "C.D" Davidsmeyer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 411/5-20

Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Provides that a cemetery with an all-volunteer board and an annual budget of less than $100,000 shall be partially exempt from the requirements of this Act. Provides that a cemetery that falls under this category shall make available and periodically update maps of the cemetery property that include locations of the graves of individuals in the cemetery; post signs in English and Spanish in each cemetery office that contain the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's consumer hotline number, but does not need certain other signs; and post the hours and rules of the cemetery. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Cemetery Oversight Act is amended by changing Section 5-20 as follows:

(225 ILCS 411/5-20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5-20. Exemptions.

(a) Full exemption. Except as provided in this subsection, this Act does not apply to (1) any cemetery authority operating as a family burying ground or religious burying ground, (2) any cemetery authority that has not engaged in an interment, inurnment, or entombment of human remains within the last 10 years, or (3) any cemetery authority that is less than 3 acres. For purposes of determining the applicability of this subsection, the number of interments, inurnments, and entombments shall be aggregated for each calendar year. A cemetery authority claiming a full exemption shall apply for exempt status as provided for in Section 10-20 of this Act. A cemetery authority claiming a full exemption shall be subject to Sections 10-40, 10-55, and 10-60 of this Act. A cemetery authority that performs activities that would disqualify it from a full exemption is required to apply for licensure within one year following the date on which its activities would disqualify it for a full exemption. A cemetery authority that previously qualified for and maintained a full exemption that fails to timely apply for licensure shall be deemed to have engaged in unlicensed practice and shall be subject to discipline in accordance with Article 25 of this Act.

(b) Partial exemption. If a cemetery authority does not qualify for a full exemption and (1) engages in 25 or fewer interments, inurnments, or entombments of human remains for each of the preceding 2 calendar years, (2) operates as a public cemetery, or (3) operates as a religious cemetery, then the cemetery authority is partially exempt from this Act but shall be required to comply with Sections 10-23, 10-40, 10-55, 10-60, subsections (a), (b), (b-5), (c), (d), (f), (g), and (h) of Section 20-5, Sections 20-6, 20-8, 20-10, 20-12, 20-30, 20-35, 20-40, 25-3, and 25-120, and Article 35 of this Act. Cemetery authorities claiming a partial exemption shall apply for the partial exemption as provided in Section 10-20 of this Act. A cemetery authority that changes to a status that would disqualify it from a partial exemption is required to apply for licensure within one year following the date on which it changes its status. A cemetery authority that maintains a partial exemption that fails to timely apply for licensure shall be deemed to have engaged in unlicensed practice and shall be subject to discipline in accordance with Article 25 of this Act.

(b-5) A cemetery with an all-volunteer board and an annual budget of less than $100,000 shall be partially exempt from the requirements of this Act. A cemetery that falls under this category shall:

(1) make available and periodically update maps of the cemetery property that include locations of the graves of individuals in the cemetery;

(2) post signs in English and Spanish in each cemetery office that contain the Department's consumer hotline number, but does not need the other signage requirements under Section 20-30; and

(3) post the hours and rules of the cemetery.

(c) Nothing in this Act applies to the City of Chicago in its exercise of its powers under the O'Hare Modernization Act or limits the authority of the City of Chicago to acquire property or otherwise exercise its powers under the O'Hare Modernization Act, or requires the City of Chicago, or any person acting on behalf of the City of Chicago, to comply with the licensing, regulation, or investigation requirements of this Act in exercising its powers under the O'Hare Modernization Act.

(d) A cemetery manager and customer service employee license may be in active status only during the period that such a licensee is employed by a cemetery authority that is licensed under this Act. In the event that a cemetery manager or customer service employee commences work for a cemetery granted an exemption under this Section, it shall be a duty of both the cemetery authority and the individual licensee to immediately notify the Department so that the license may be placed on inactive status. During the period that a license is in inactive status, the involved person may not hold himself or herself out as licensed. Upon returning to employment by a cemetery licensed under this Act, such a cemetery manager or customer service employee may reinstate the license to active status simply by notifying the Department and paying the applicable fee.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 6-25-21.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.