Ch. 675                                    1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CEMETERY OVERSIGHT ESTABLISHED UNDER TITLE 5 OF THE BUSINESS
REGULATION ARTICLE AND THE REGULATIONS THAT RELATE TO THE OFFICE OF
CEMETERY OVERSIGHT.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Director of the Office
of Cemetery Oversight shall:

(1)     In conjunction with the State Board of Morticians, conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of combining the Office of Cemetery Oversight and the State

Board of Morticians;

(2)     Conduct a study regarding the illegal recycling of graves;

(3)     Conduct a study regarding the historic preservation of graves; and

(4)    Inventory all known burial sites in the State;

(4) (5) Issue Subject to § 2-1312 of the State Government Article, issue findings
and recommendations of the studies to the General Assembly by July 1, 1999.

SECTION 1. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Office of Cemetery
Oversight shall document any complaints received between the effective date of this Act
and December 31, 1999, concerning the bona fide, religious, nonprofit cemeteries that are
not subject to regulation under this Act and report to the House Economic Matters
Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on or before January 31, 2000, in
accordance with § 2-1312 of the State Government Article.

SECTION 5. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the requirement under
§ 5-201 of the Business Regulation Article that the members of the Advisory Council on
Cemetery Operations who represent nonreligious cemeteries be registered cemeterians
and that the individual representing a monument company be a registered seller does not
apply to individuals who fill these positions during the first year of the Council's
existence.

SECTION 6. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the initial
members of the Advisory Council shall expire as follows:

(1) four members in 2000;

(2)     four members in 2001; and

(3)     three members in 2002.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1997.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That this Act shall be construed only
prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or application to:

(1) Any preneed burial contract or pre-need contract entered into before the
effective date of this Act; or

(2) Any noncorporate entity that was not subject to § 5-501 or § 5-502 before
the effective date of this Act.

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