<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="5-805" title_number="5" title_name="Cemeteries" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Abandoned cemetery” means a cemetery for which:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>the organization established to engage in the operation of the cemetery has been terminated, has been subject to administrative dissolution by the State, or has otherwise ceased to exist; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>title has not been conveyed;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>there is no property owner listed in the records of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the property has been condemned; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>no person who is legally responsible for the property can be found and legal ownership of the property cannot be determined.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Fund” means the Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Neglected cemetery” means a cemetery for which:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>two or more citations have been issued by a county or municipal corporation against the property for failure to maintain the property;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the property has fallen into disrepair due to neglect and insufficient maintenance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the property has been the object of vandalism, loitering, or other criminal conduct; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>there has been physical destruction or deterioration of the property.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is an Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide for the care, preservation, maintenance, and restoration of abandoned and neglected cemeteries in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary shall administer the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>interest earnings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Money in the Fund may be used only for the costs of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>care, preservation, maintenance, and restoration of abandoned and neglected cemeteries;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>administering the Fund through distribution to an administrative cost account in the Department; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, promoting donations to the Fund through distribution to a promotion cost account in the Department.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Not more than 5% of the net proceeds of the Fund may be used under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>Money expended from the Fund for the preservation, care, and maintenance of abandoned and neglected cemeteries is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for the Office of Cemetery Oversight.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 to the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>On or before September 30 each year, the Secretary shall submit a report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the administration of the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>The report required under subsection (l) of this section shall include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the gross amount of donations to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a description of promotional efforts undertaken with money from the Fund; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a detailed accounting of the use of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
