HCS SCS SB 892 -- CEMETERY SERVICES

SPONSOR:  Kenney (O'Connor)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Miscellaneous Bills and Resolutions by a vote of 5 to 2.

This substitute adds interment, entombment, and inurnment
cemetery services to the list of items that may be pre-purchased
from a cemetery.  The cemetery owner is required to deposit a
minimum of 40% of the retail price of the service in a trusted
account.  The substitute also defines cemetery services as those
services performed by an endowed care cemetery, including setting
a monument, tent, or vault.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the substitute fills a loophole
in the law that does not account for this type of cemetery
service and that it ensures that money will be available in the
event a cemetery is sold or goes bankrupt.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Kenney; and Forever
Enterprises.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the substitute say that the existing
statutes are adequate as benchmarks.  The percentage of funds
protected needs to be increased to 80%, and the substitute will
strip consumer protections.

Testifying against the bill were Associated Cemeteries of
Missouri; and Missouri Funeral Directors Association.

Mark Pioli, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am