CALL TO ACTION: The Board of Directors of the Maine Old Cemetery Association urges your support of LD 1233, an Act Regarding the Maine State Cemetery Preservation Commission. We urge you to CALL your Legislators today and ask them to Vote YES on LD 1233. LD 1233 was recently voted out of the "State and Local Government Committee" as OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED.

This important legislation recreates the Commission as an independent Commission with funding from a $5 increase in the state burial fee and the ability to receive funds from outside entities. It establishes the Cemetery Preservation Commission Fund.

This legislation charges the Commission to:

• Advise and educate municipalities and property owners in regard to the laws and existence of burying grounds and cemeteries, and the proper care and preservation of graves, gravestone, walls and fences, in and around, burying grounds and cemeteries.
• Review Statues and provide information and recommended changes to the Legislature applicable to burying grounds and cemeteries.
• Investigate reported violations of cemetery laws and make recommendations for action on violations to municipal officials.

This legislation gives the Commission the power to:

• Hire staff to carry out the duties of the Commission.
• Advise and educate municipalities and property owners about the existence of burying grounds and cemeteries and the laws applicable to burying grounds and cemeteries.
• Advise and educate municipalities, property owners, and owners of burying grounds and cemeteries on the proper care and preservation of graves, gravestones, walls and fences in and around burying grounds and cemeteries.
• Review statutes applicable to burying grounds and cemeteries and provide information to the Legislature on recommended changes.
• Create a web page on the State's publicly accessible website that provides information related to the commission's duties and powers.

This is a monumental piece of legislation in the history of Maine Cemeteries Conservation and Preservation efforts and needs our support. We urge you to call your state representative today.

Maine Old Cemetery Association
Helen A Shaw, Chair: Legislation & Law Committee
Walter A. Guptill, President MOCA

For full text of LD 1233 go to: getPDF.asp (maine.gov)