Sen. David S. Luechtefeld

Filed: 3/18/2015

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1275

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1275 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Access to Cemeteries on Private Property Act.
 
6    Section 5. Access with landowner's consent.
7    (a) Any of the following persons, with the consent of the
8public or private landowner, may enter the property of another
9to discover, restore, maintain, or visit a grave, private
10cemetery, or abandoned cemetery:
11        (1) A descendant of the person whose remains are
12    reasonably believed to be interred in the grave, private
13    cemetery, or abandoned cemetery.
14        (2) A descendant's designee.
15        (3) Any other person who has a special personal
16    interest in the grave, private cemetery, or abandoned

 

 

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1    cemetery.
2    (b) The landowner, in the absence of willful and wanton
3conduct, is immune from liability in any civil suit, claim,
4action, or cause of action arising out of the access granted
5pursuant to this Section.
 
6    Section 10. Access without landowner's consent.
7    (a) If the consent of the landowner cannot be obtained, any
8person listed in subsection (a) of Section 5 of this Act may
9file a petition in the circuit court of the county in which the
10petitioner has reasonable grounds to believe the grave, private
11cemetery, or abandoned cemetery is located for an order
12allowing the petitioner to enter the property to discover,
13restore, maintain, or visit the grave, private cemetery, or
14abandoned cemetery. The petition shall be verified. The
15proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Article II of
16the Code of Civil Procedure. The court shall issue an order
17allowing the petitioner to enter the property if the court
18finds all of the following:
19        (1) There are reasonable grounds to believe that the
20    grave, private cemetery, or abandoned cemetery is located
21    on the property or it is reasonably necessary to enter or
22    cross the landowner's property to reach the grave, private
23    cemetery, or abandoned cemetery.
24        (2) The petitioner, or the petitioner's designee, is a
25    descendant of the deceased, or the petitioner has a

 

 

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1    legitimate historical, genealogical, or governmental
2    interest in the grave, private cemetery, or abandoned
3    cemetery.
4        (3) The entry on the property would not unreasonably
5    interfere with the enjoyment of the property by the
6    landowner.
7    (b) The court's order may do one or more of the following:
8        (1) Specify the dates and the daylight hours that the
9    petitioner may enter and remain on the property.
10        (2) Grant the petitioner the right to enter the
11    landowner's property periodically, as specified in the
12    order, after the time needed for initial restoration of the
13    grave, private cemetery, or abandoned cemetery.
14        (3) Specify a reasonable route from which the
15    petitioner may not deviate in all entries and exits from
16    the property.
17    (c) The court's order may not require the landowner to make
18modifications to his or her property in order to accommodate
19access to the grave, private cemetery, or abandoned cemetery.
20    (d) The landowner, in the absence of willful and wanton
21conduct, is immune from liability in any civil suit, claim,
22action, or cause of action arising out of the access granted
23pursuant to this Section.".