Excerpt from: Regulatory Issues
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| May 11, 2006 | | Bill Would Provide Financial Assistance to Cemeteries in Need and Offers Families More Options | |
On May 11, representatives from the New Jersey
Cemetery Association (NJCA), including Bernard Stoecklein, chief executive
officer of CMS-Mid-Atlantic, Inc., testified before the New Jersey state
legislature in support of A-2973, the proposed bill known as the Distressed Cemetery Maintenance and
Preservation Act.
According to Judy Welshons, executive director of the NJCA, passage of
the bill is crucial to the solvency of the 379 regulated cemeteries in the state
of New Jersey.
“Approximately 62% of the regulated cemeteries in our state are on the
“watch or fully distressed” lists.
This means that they do not have sufficient monies in their Maintenance
and Preservation Funds for current or future maintenance of their graves or
properties,” Welshons explained.
A-2973
would restore cemeteries’ ability to sell memorials, private mausoleums and
vaults – a right that they lost in 1971 as a result of an isolated instance.
The NJCA believes that the
increased competition that would result from the cemeteries (which are regulated
by the state) being permitted to offer memorials, private mausoleums and vaults
will also help consumers. Increased
competition results in better prices and service and also offers more options
and convenience to the families seeking these items.
If
A-2973 is passed, the Distressed
Cemetery Maintenance and Preservation Act
would enable cemeteries to sell memorials, private mausoleums and vaults
with 5% of the gross sale price of such merchandise remitted to the State for
deposit into the Distressed Cemetery Maintenance and Preservation Fund. The funds would then be distributed by
the State to assist troubled cemeteries.
“Members of the New Jersey Cemetery Association hope that the legislature
truly recognizes the importance of this bill,” Stoecklein said. “While the Distressed Cemetery Maintenance and Preservation
Act would provide financial assistance to cemeteries currently in need, it would
also provide a source of revenues to many other cemeteries that are headed for
insolvency. Additionally, it will
ultimately provide a greater level of convenience to families when faced with
making arrangements for their loved ones when a death occurs and it will give
them peace of mind that their cemeteries will always be there to preserve their
memories.” | | |
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