Directs the secretary of state to develop and implement an adopt-a-rural-cemetery program for the purposes of improving, repairing, and maintaining cemeteries in rural communities which are registered with and overseen by the division of cemeteries; allows municipalities to opt in to the program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1151
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2025
___________
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:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 144-b
2 to read as follows:
3 § 144-b. Adopt-a-rural cemetery program. 1. The secretary of state
4 shall develop and implement an adopt-a-rural cemetery program the
5 purposes of which shall include, but not be limited to, improving,
6 repairing, and maintaining cemeteries in rural communities which are
7 registered with and overseen by the division of cemeteries and are
8 located in any municipality except in a city having a population of one
9 million or more inhabitants. A municipality may opt to participate in
10 the program. The program shall include but not be limited to:
11 (a) coordinating services by volunteers or groups to improve, repair
12 and maintain cemeteries; and
13 (b) providing and installing appropriate signs identifying those
14 volunteers or groups adopting particular rural cemeteries.
15 2. (a) Signs described in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this
16 section must:
17 (i) be placed at the main entrance of the cemetery alongside or below
18 any existing cemetery signage;
19 (ii) match and conform to the style, color, type, font, and likeness
20 of any existing cemetery signage, including any historic preservation
21 requirements;
22 (iii) be devoid of any corporate logos, trademarks, and images;
23 (iv) be limited in size to no more than half the dimensions of the
24 largest existing cemetery signage at the location in which it shall be
25 placed; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03561-01-5
S. 1151 2
1 (v) meet any other requirements that the department of state may add.
2 (b) If there is no existing signage at a cemetery, the sign for iden-
3 tifying those volunteers or groups adopting particular rural cemeteries
4 shall be constructed in accordance with how the cemetery corporation or
5 municipality which owns the cemetery shall see fit but shall be devoid
6 of any corporate logos, trademarks, and images.
7 3. The secretary of state is authorized and directed to promulgate
8 rules and regulations necessary to implement and carry out the
9 provisions of this section including but not limited to:
10 (a) the number of years that volunteers or groups may adopt a rural
11 cemetery; and
12 (b) the requirements that must be met in order to continue to be the
13 adopter of a cemetery.
14 4. The program will be funded through existing appropriations within
15 the department of state for the reimbursement of maintenance and the
16 designing, construction, and installation of the signage identifying
17 those volunteers or groups adopting particular rural cemeteries.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
