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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="5-603" title_number="5" title_name="Cemeteries" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Perpetual Care">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “developed land area” means land in a cemetery:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>that is available for burial;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>where roads, paths, or buildings have been laid out or built; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>where burial lots have been outlined on a plat or in a record or sales brochure.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each sole proprietor registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the registration or permit provisions of this title who sells or offers to sell to the public a burial lot or burial right in a cemetery as to which perpetual care is stated or implied shall have a perpetual care trust fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A separate perpetual care trust fund shall be established for each cemetery to which this section applies.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>On the general price list, contract of sale of burial space, and any conveyance documents, all cemeteries subject to the provisions of this subtitle shall state in writing the following using 12 point or larger type font:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>“The cemetery is a perpetual care cemetery.”; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“The cemetery is not a perpetual care cemetery.”</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A cemetery created in the State after October 1, 2001, that is not exempt under § 5–602 of this subtitle shall be required to establish a perpetual care trust fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Each sole proprietor registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the trust requirements of this subtitle initially shall deposit in the perpetual care trust fund at least:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>$10,000, if the developed land area of the cemetery is 10 acres or less and the cemetery is a nonprofit cemetery which does not sell burial goods;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>$25,000, if the developed land area of the cemetery is more than 10 acres and the cemetery is a nonprofit cemetery which does not sell burial goods;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>$25,000, if the developed land area of the cemetery is 10 acres or less and the cemetery is a for–profit cemetery or a nonprofit cemetery which sells burial goods; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>$50,000, if the developed land area of the cemetery is more than 10 acres and the cemetery is a for–profit cemetery or a nonprofit cemetery which sells burial goods.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The deposits required by this subsection are in addition to the deposits required by subsection (c) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, within 30 days after the end of the month when the buyer of a right of interment in a burial lot, above–ground crypt, or niche makes a final payment, the registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the trust requirements of this subtitle shall pay in cash to the trustee for deposit in the perpetual care trust fund:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>at least 10% of the actual selling price of each right of interment in a burial lot, above–ground crypt, or niche; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>if the burial space is sold at a discount or at no cost, at least 10% of the imputed cost of the fair retail value.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The amount of deposit to the perpetual care trust fund shall be deducted from the proceeds of the listed selling price of the right of interment in a burial lot, above–ground crypt, or niche, and may not be charged as an add–on to the purchaser.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to the sale of a second right of interment or the resale of a right of interment in a burial lot, above–ground crypt, or niche for which the cemetery already has paid into the perpetual care trust fund the deposit required by this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A distribution from the perpetual care trust fund made under subsection (g) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall be used only for the perpetual care of the cemetery, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the maintenance, including the cutting of grass abutting memorials or monuments, administration, supervision, and embellishment of the cemetery and its grounds, roads, and paths; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the repair and renewal of buildings, including columbaria and mausoleums, and the property of the cemetery;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may not be used to care for memorials or monuments; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>may not be used by the owner of a cemetery for any purpose not described in item (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Realized capital gains of a perpetual care trust fund shall be deposited in the perpetual care trust fund as principal of the perpetual care trust fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “net income” includes interest and dividends.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A cemetery that is subject to this section may select as the method of distribution from the perpetual care trust fund either:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>all net income to be distributed on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an amount not exceeding 4% of the average of the end–of–year fair market value of the perpetual care trust fund for the preceding 3 calendar years, to be distributed on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if a cemetery that is subject to this section selects a method of distribution described in paragraph (2) of this subsection:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the trustee shall submit to the Director a statement attesting that the cemetery’s selection of the method of distribution described in paragraph (2) of this subsection is reasonably expected to result in sufficient protection of the perpetual care trust fund’s principal;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the cemetery shall notify the Director in writing at least 60 days before the date the method of distribution will take effect;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the notification under item 1 of this subparagraph shall include a copy of the investment policy statement for the trust and the planned initial distribution amount;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the cemetery shall notify the trustee in writing at least 60 days before the date the method of distribution will take effect; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>the method of distribution shall remain in effect until the cemetery notifies the trustee and the Director in writing that the cemetery has selected a different method of distribution.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>A cemetery’s selection of a method of distribution under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is contingent on approval of the Director made in accordance with subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Within 30 days after receiving notice under subparagraph (i)1 of this paragraph, the Director shall, in a written notice provided to the cemetery, approve or disapprove the proposed distribution method.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>If a cemetery that is subject to this section does not select a method of distribution described in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the trustee shall distribute to the cemetery, on a monthly basis, all net income of the perpetual care trust fund.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If a cemetery that is subject to this section selects the method of distribution described in paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, the trustee:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>shall submit annually to the Director a statement attesting that the cemetery’s selection of the method of distribution described in paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection is reasonably expected to result in sufficient protection of the perpetual care trust fund’s principal;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may not reduce the amount of the distribution by any taxes or fees;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>shall adopt an investment policy that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>provides for a balanced portfolio, including a reasonable amount of fixed–income securities; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>supports the growth of the perpetual care trust fund; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <level label="1">
          <text>shall use the method of distribution selected by the cemetery if the fair market value of the perpetual care trust fund exceeds the sum of:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>80% of the average of the end–of–year fair market value of the perpetual care trust fund for the preceding 3 calendar years; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>the total contributions made to the principal of the perpetual care trust fund from the end of the preceding calendar year; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>shall distribute to the cemetery on a monthly basis for the remainder of the calendar year all net income of the perpetual care trust fund if the fair market value of the perpetual care trust fund does not exceed the sum calculated under item 1 of this item.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The Director may limit or prohibit a distribution made under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection if the Director believes that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>based on a review submitted by the trustee of the prior 5 to 7 years of performance of the perpetual care trust fund or, if less than 5 years have elapsed since the date of selection of the investment method, a review submitted by the trustee of the performance of the perpetual care trust fund since the date of selection, investment returns and distribution practices have not resulted in sufficient protection of the perpetual care trust fund’s principal; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the trustee does not have sufficient knowledge and expertise to administer the perpetual care trust fund in a manner that supports the growth of the perpetual care trust fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The trustee shall pay capital gains taxes from the principal of the perpetual care trust fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The perpetual care trust fund authorized by this subsection shall be a single purpose trust fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of, or assignment for the benefit of creditors by, or an adverse judgment against the sole proprietor registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the trust requirements of this subtitle, the perpetual care trust funds may not be made available to any creditor as assets of the sole proprietor registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the trust requirements of this subtitle or as payment for any expenses of any bankruptcy or similar proceedings, but shall be retained intact to provide for the future maintenance of the cemetery.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The perpetual care trust fund is not subject to judgment, execution, garnishment, attachment, or other seizure by process in bankruptcy or otherwise, or to sale, pledge, mortgage, or other alienation and is not assignable.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>A sole proprietor registered cemeterian, permit holder, or any other person subject to the trust requirements of this subtitle shall maintain in the office of the cemetery a copy of the most recent trust report filed with the Office under § 5–606 of this subtitle and shall make the report available for inspection by an owner or a prospective purchaser of a right of interment in a burial lot, above–ground crypt, or niche.</text>
  </level>
</section>
