CHAPTER 368j
CEMETERIES

Sec. 19a-295. (Formerly Sec. 19-146). Ownership and management of burial grounds. Town appropriations. Towns and ecclesiastical societies may procure and hold lands for burial grounds and provide a hearse and pall for the burial of the dead. Cemeteries may be acquired, owned and managed and controlled by such towns and ecclesiastical societies, and by cemetery associations heretofore incorporated or incorporated as provided in section 19a-296, and by no other persons, firms or corporations. Any town may appropriate annually such sum as may be necessary to maintain and properly care for public cemeteries and public burying grounds owned or controlled by such town, and any town may appropriate annually such sums as may be necessary to aid in the maintenance and care of public cemeteries and public burying grounds owned or controlled by ecclesiastical societies or cemetery associations.
(1949 Rev., S. 4703; 1953, S. 2358d.)
History: Sec. 19-146 transferred to Sec. 19a-295 in 1983.
See Sec. 19a-91 re transportation of bodies.
See Sec. 25-41 prohibiting location of cemetery within one-half mile of reservoir.
Annotations to former section 19-146:
This section authorizes ancient practice. 77 C. 84.
Cited. 29 CS 292.

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Cemetery associations shall be organized in accordance with the provisions of sections 33-1025 to 33- 1047, inclusive, and shall not be conducted for the purposes of speculation in cemetery lots and property, or for private gain, either directly or indirectly, to any of the members of any such association; and land for the enlargement of a cemetery may be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 48-18.
(1949 Rev., S. 4704; 1959, P.A. 617, S. 109; P.A. 96-256, S. 184, 209.)
History: 1959 act deleted reference to section 33-146, substituting sections 33-423 to 33-432; Sec. 19-147 transferred to Sec. 19a-296 in 1983; P.A. 96-256 replaced reference to Secs. 33-423 to 33-432, inclusive, with Secs. 33-1025 to Sec. 33-1047, inclusive, effective January 1, 1997.
See Sec. 19a-314 re penalty for violation of this section.
Annotations to former section 19-147:
Special law authorizing one cemetery association to take land of another upheld. 77 C. 83. Association may still hold title to land, though all rights of burial are disposed of. 83 C. 204. Condemnation of land. 87 C. 428. The right of eminent domain is specifically given to the owner of any cemetery. 168 C. 447. Cited. 180 C. 680, 683.
Cited. 16 CS 327. Cited. 29 CS 292.

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The selectmen of towns, cemetery associations or ecclesiastical societies, having the care of cemeteries, may enact bylaws providing for the care and management of all burial lots, and the protection of all shrubs, trees, fences and monuments thereon, provided no such bylaws shall require or result in the removal or banishing of any undamaged United States flag or armed forces service marker, including flagholders provided by veterans organizations, from any grave site, and may appoint superintendents and sextons for such cemeteries, who shall have the exclusive right to direct the opening of graves, and no grave shall be opened in any cemetery except with the consent of the superintendent or sexton. Any person to whom such bylaws have been made known who violates the same shall be fined not more than ten dollars. The incorporators, organizers or members of any cemetery association or, if no incorporators, organizers or members are living, the owners of burial lots therein, by a majority vote, may, at any meeting called for that purpose, amend its articles of association or its bylaws.
(1949 Rev., S. 4710; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 92; 1967, P.A. 161, S. 1; P.A. 79-105; P.A. 80-483, S. 79, 186; P.A. 96-209, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act added proviso re flag or service marker; P.A. 79-105 added flagholders provided by veterans organizations in proviso; P.A. 80-483 made technical grammar corrections; Sec. 19-148 transferred to Sec. 19a-297 in 1983; P.A. 96-209 added "or members" after "organizers".
See Sec. 7-66 re duties of sextons.
See Sec. 7-71 re required reporting of sexton's name to town registrar.
See Sec. 19a-309 re headstones at soldiers' graves.
Annotations to former section 19-148:
Bylaw forbidding any person to cut herbage without permission upheld; this section applies to a stock corporation. 78 C. 90.
Cited. 29 CS 292.

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Sec. 19a-298. (Formerly Sec. 19-149). Cemetery associations with capital stock organized prior to 1855. Cemetery associations having capital stock and organized under the general law as to incorporating burial societies prior to 1855 may, when the principal and interest of the subscriptions for capital stock have been repaid and no dividends have been paid for sixty-five years, amend the articles of association by a majority vote of the stock present and voting at a special meeting of such association called for the purpose.
(1949 Rev., S. 4722.)
History: Sec. 19-149 transferred to Sec. 19a-298 in 1983.

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Towns, ecclesiastical societies and cemetery associations may receive and hold in trust donations, the income of which is to be used wholly or in part for the care or improvement of their cemeteries and burial lots or of private lots within such cemeteries or elsewhere. All such donations shall be invested as by law required for the investment of trust funds, except when otherwise authorized by the donors. The principal of two or more such trust funds may be combined and merged in a single fund for the purpose of the investment of the same.
(1949 Rev., S. 4712; 1957, P.A. 329, S. 1.)
History: Sec. 19-150 transferred to Sec. 19a-299 in 1983.
See Sec. 33-264g authorizing receipt of funds derived by gift or devise.
Annotations to former section 19-150:
Cemetery association is not a benevolent society. 73 C. 678. Ecclesiastical society can accept gift, portion of which is to be devoted to a cemetery and the balance to maintaining its church. 82 C. 188. Cited. 151 C. 527.

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Money declared by an instrument in writing to be intended for the perpetual care, maintenance, improvement or embellishment of any cemetery in this state, or of any lot or plot therein, to an amount not less than one hundred dollars, may be deposited with the State Treasurer who shall, in the name of the state, receive and receipt therefor. Each depositor shall, at the time of making such deposit, file with the State Treasurer and with the Secretary of the State a copy of such instrument. The State Treasurer shall invest the money deposited with him under the provisions of this section, in the name of the state, in bonds or other obligations of the state or other securities in which he is authorized to invest money in behalf of the state; and, on the first days of February and August annually, he shall pay over the accrued interest thereof to the treasurer of the town in which the cemetery is located, and the same shall be expended in the same manner as the income of funds donated to towns under the provisions of section 19a-304. At the time of paying such interest the State Treasurer shall inform the person to whom it is paid of the purpose to which it is to be applied, as stated in the copy of such instrument, and such person shall thereupon apply it to such purpose.
(1949 Rev., S. 4713; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 51.)
History: 1959 act deleted references to county and county treasurer, county government having been abolished and substituted references to state; Sec. 19-151 transferred to Sec. 19a-300 in 1983.

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(a) Any cemetery association, organized as provided by law, may, by vote of the directors or members of such association, set aside the surplus funds of such association as a perpetual fund. Such fund shall be invested in accordance with the provisions of the statutes concerning the investment of trust funds. Such fund, together with any donation received by an ecclesiastical society or cemetery association pursuant to section 19a-303, shall be under the control, management and supervision of a committee of not fewer than three persons elected by such association or society. Such ecclesiastical society or cemetery association shall meet at least once annually. The treasurer of such society or association shall be, ex officio, the treasurer of such committee, and shall give bond, with surety, to the satisfaction of such committee, for the faithful discharge of his duties. He shall expend the income from such fund or donation for the management, care and maintenance of any cemetery owned or controlled by such ecclesiastical society or cemetery association, or for the purpose set forth in the instrument or declaration of trust regulating the use of such donation or fund if such instrument or declaration of trust should otherwise provide, at the times and in the manner designated by such society or association. The treasurer shall annually, on or before July first, make a report to such society or association, stating the income received, to whom it has been paid, the amount and condition of the fund and how it is invested. A copy of such report shall be filed with the probate court for the district within which the cemetery owned or controlled by the society or association is located. Any treasurer who fails to file such report with the probate court shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
(b) Any interested party may petition the probate court having jurisdiction under this section to require an accounting by the treasurer. The court may, after hearing, with notice to all interested parties, grant the petition and require an accounting for such periods of time as it determines are reasonable and necessary on finding that: (1) The petitioner has an interest in the fund sufficient to entitle him to an accounting; (2) cause has been shown that an accounting is necessary; and (3) the petition is not for the purpose of harassment. The court shall cause notice of the hearing on the account be given to such parties and in such manner as it directs.
(c) The action to submit an accounting to the court shall not subject the fund to the continuing jurisdiction of the court.
(d) Upon the allowance of any such account, the court shall determine the rights of the parties, subject to appeal as in other cases.
(1949 Rev., S. 4714; 1953, S. 2359d; P.A. 98-219, S. 12.)
History: Sec. 19-152 transferred to Sec. 19a-301 in 1983; P.A. 98-219 added Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) re petition of Probate Court to require accounting of perpetual fund by Treasurer.

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If at any time such association fails to comply with the provisions of section 19a-301, the selectmen of the town in which such cemetery is located shall take over the care of said fund and file an annual report with the Probate Court in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-301. The selectmen may appoint a cemetery committee consisting of three members, residents of such town, one to serve for a term of two years, one for four years and one for six years, and biennially thereafter they may appoint one member for a term of six years to replace the member whose term expires. Said committee shall have all of the powers and duties of a committee established as provided in section 19a-301.
(1953, S. 2360d.)
History: Sec. 19-153 transferred to Sec. 19a-302 in 1983.

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Any town or ecclesiastical society, at any meeting warned and held for that purpose, may accept, upon the terms and conditions expressed by a testator in his will, any legacy intended as a provision for the enlargement, improvement or repair of any cemetery or any part thereof, in any town in this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4715.)
History: Sec. 19-154 transferred to Sec. 19a-303 in 1983.

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Such a donation, when received by a town, shall, unless otherwise directed by the donor, be paid to the town treasurer; and the income therefrom shall be paid by such treasurer to such person as the selectmen may annually appoint to receive and expend such income. The person so appointed shall give a bond to the town for such sum as the selectmen may fix, with surety to their satisfaction, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties; and thereupon such person shall expend such income pursuant to the terms of the instrument or declaration of trust regulating the use thereof, and, when no specific direction has been made by the donor relative to the expenditure of such income, or when the purpose specified is incapable of performance, or when there is a surplus of income after the directions of the trust have been fully complied with and performed, he shall expend the same wholly or in part for the general care or improvement of the cemeteries and burial lots or of private lots within such cemeteries in such town.
(1949 Rev., S. 4716; 1957, P.A. 329, S. 2.)
History: Sec. 19-155 transferred to Sec. 19a-304 in 1983.

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Sec. 19a-305. (Formerly Sec. 19-156). Probate Court may make allowance for care of lot. The Court of Probate may allow, out of the estate of a deceased person in settlement before such court, such amount as it deems necessary for the perpetual care, or for care for such time as it determines, of the cemetery lot wherein the deceased is interred.
(1949 Rev., S. 4721.)
History: Sec. 19-156 transferred to Sec. 19a-305 in 1983.

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When any cemetery association or ecclesiastical society owns or manages a cemetery or cemeteries in two adjoining towns, or in the town next adjoining the town in which such association or society is located, a certificate of the registrar of that one of such towns in which any person dies shall be sufficient to enable such association or society to bury such deceased person in any of the cemeteries owned or managed by it as aforesaid.
(1949 Rev., S. 4718.)
History: Sec. 19-157 transferred to Sec. 19a-306 in 1983.

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Any town or any mutual nonstock cemetery association or corporation having charges legally assessed against any lot in the cemetery under its control or any holder of any such lot which have been due and unpaid for at least ten years shall be authorized to sell the unused portion of such lot in such manner as its legislative body or governing board, as the case may be, may direct, provided a notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail to any such lotholder and any other person known to be beneficially interested in any such lot, at the last-known address of such lotholder or other person, which notice shall substantially contain the information that, if such legally assessed charges are not paid within a year from the date of the issuance of such notice, such town, cemetery association or corporation may take over any unused portion of such lot for the purpose of sale, provided space shall be reserved for the surviving spouse, if any, of the original lotholder, if the surviving spouse would otherwise be eligible for burial in such cemetery under the rules and regulations governing burials in such cemetery. If such town, association or corporation is unable to determine any person known to be beneficially interested in any such lot, it shall cause to be published, in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which the cemetery is located, at least once a week for three consecutive weeks, a notice containing the same information as is sent to any known lotholder or person known to be beneficially interested. The proceeds from the sale of such unused portion of such lots shall first be used to reimburse such town, association or corporation for any past due charges and costs of sale. The balance shall be placed in a perpetual care fund, the interest from which shall be expended in the care of such uncared-for lots in such cemetery as are designated by the legislative body of such town or the governing board of such cemetery, as the case may be.
(1949 Rev., S. 4705; 1957, P.A. 97; 1971, P.A. 172.)
History: 1971 act allowed towns, acting through their legislative bodies, to sell abandoned or unused lots in cemeteries under their control; Sec. 19-158 transferred to Sec. 19a-307 in 1983.
See Sec. 19a-314 re penalty for violation of this section.

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In any town in which there is a burial ground or cemetery containing more than six places of interment and not under the control or management of any currently functioning cemetery association, which has been neglected and allowed to grow up to weeds, briars and bushes, or about which the fences have become broken, decayed or dilapidated, the selectmen of such town may annually cause such burial ground to be cleared of weeds, briars and bushes, and may cause its fences or walls to be repaired and kept in orderly and decent condition and its memorial stones to be straightened.
(1949 Rev., S. 4719.)
History: Sec. 19-159 transferred to Sec. 19a-308 in 1983.
Annotation to former section 19-159:
Cited. 168 C. 447.

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No cemetery association shall make or enforce any bylaw, order or regulation prohibiting the erection of any tombstone or headstone, provided by the state or otherwise, at the grave of any soldier, sailor or marine buried in such cemetery. Each association or officer thereof who violates any provision of this section shall be fined fifty dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 4720.)
History: Sec. 19-160 transferred to Sec. 19a-309 in 1983.
See Sec. 19a-297 re authority of selectmen, cemetery associations or ecclesiastical societies to enact bylaws for management and care of burial lots.

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No person shall construct any vault, crypt, columbarium or mausoleum for public use, wholly or partially above the surface of the ground, to be used to contain the body of any dead person (1) unless the same is located within the confines of an established cemetery containing not less than five acres, which cemetery has been in existence and operation for a period of at least five years immediately preceding the time of the erection thereof, or (2) if located within a cemetery containing less than five acres, such location has been approved by the selectmen of any town, the mayor and council or board of aldermen of any city and the warden and burgesses of any borough; except that in any town, city or borough having a zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission, such commission shall have the authority to grant such approval; nor until plans and specifications for such vault, crypt, columbarium or mausoleum are approved by the Department of Public Health and a fee of one thousand dollars is paid to the Department of Public Health for its review and approval of such plans and specifications, provided a columbarium which is used solely as a repository for the remains, after cremation, of deceased persons and is located on the premises of any religious society or corporation shall not be subject to the provisions of this section. Such plans and specifications shall set forth the sections, halls, rooms, corridors, elevators or other subdivisions thereof, with their descriptive names and numbers, and shall provide: (a) That such structure be so arranged that the cell, niche or crypt may be readily examined at any time by any person authorized by law to do so; (b) that the materials of which such structure is to be constructed are to be of the best quality and of a character best suited for the purposes intended; and (c) that the structure shall be so constructed as to insure its durability and permanence as well as the safety, convenience, comfort and health of the community in which it is located, as dictated and determined at the time by modern mausoleum construction and engineering science. The person making the application shall file a certificate of such approval, signed by the Commissioner of Public Health, with a copy of such plans and specifications, in the office of the town clerk of the town wherein such structure is to be erected, and such clerk shall retain the same on file.
(1949 Rev., S. 4706; 1969, P.A. 30; 1971, P.A. 34, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 87-490, S. 4; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 9, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1969 act deleted requirement that crypt or cell be constructed so as to be hermetically and permanently sealed stated in former Subdiv. (b) and redesignated remaining subdivisions accordingly; 1971 act excluded columbarium used solely for cremated remains and located on premises of religious society or corporation from provisions of section; P.A. 77-614 replaced department and commissioner of health with department and commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-161 transferred to Sec. 19a-310 in 1983; P.A. 87-490 inserted Subdiv. (2) concerning approvals in cemeteries containing less than five acres; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 established a fee of one thousand dollars for review and approval of plans; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 19a-314 re penalty for violation of this section.

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Such structure shall be erected under the supervision of an inspector to be appointed by the Department of Public Health, which shall determine the amount of his compensation, such compensation to be paid by the person erecting the same. No vault, crypt, niche, mausoleum, columbarium or structure, and no addition or alteration thereof, shall be used for the purpose of interring therein any body until the person, firm or corporation operating such structure has obtained from said department a certificate, signed by the Commissioner of Public Health, certifying that the plans and specifications filed pursuant to the provisions of section 19a-310 have been complied with, and that the requirements for a maintenance fund provided for in subsection (b) of section 19a- 312 have been complied with, which certificate shall be filed in the office of the town clerk of the town wherein the community mausoleum is located, provided a columbarium which is used solely as a repository for the remains, after cremation of deceased persons and is located on the premises of any religious society or corporation shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4707; 1971, P.A. 34, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-180, S. 59, 166.)
History: 1971 act excluded columbarium used solely for cremated remains and located on premises of religious society or corporation from provisions of section; P.A. 77-614 replaced department and commissioner of health with department and commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-162 transferred to Sec. 19a-311 in 1983; P.A. 93- 381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-180 made a technical change, effective June 3, 1996.
See Sec. 19a-314 re penalty for violation of this section.

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(a) No crypt or room in any mausoleum not privately owned, or niche in a columbarium not so owned, shall be sold or offered for sale, until such structure is entirely completed.
(b) There shall be established and maintained a fund for the perpetual care and maintenance of each such mausoleum and columbarium, by applying in the case of a mausoleum not less than the sum of one hundred dollars from the proceeds received from the sale of each crypt and ten per cent of the proceeds received from the sale of each room; and in case of niches in a mausoleum or columbarium, used as a repository for the remains of deceased persons after cremation, a sum which shall be equivalent to ten per cent of the sale price of each niche. If sales of crypts or rooms in any such mausoleum, or sales of niches in any such mausoleum or columbarium, are made upon a partial payment plan, there shall be set apart and applied to said maintenance fund from each such payment such proportion thereof as the number of partial payments bears to the total amount of the sum required to be set aside for such fund.
(c) When any mausoleum, vault, crypt or structure containing one or more deceased human bodies, in the opinion of the Department of Public Health, becomes a menace to public health, and the owner or owners thereof fail to remedy or remove the same to the satisfaction of said department, any court of competent jurisdiction may order the person, firm or corporation owning such structure to remove the deceased body or bodies for interment in some suitable cemetery at the expense of the person, firm or corporation owning such mausoleum, vault or crypt. If no such person, firm or corporation can be found in the county where such mausoleum, vault or crypt is located, such removal and interment shall be at the expense of the cemetery, city or town within which such mausoleum, vault or crypt is located, or of the cemetery association in charge of any such cemetery.
(d) Any cemetery or mausoleum maintained or constructed contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be enjoined in an action brought by any taxpayer of this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4708; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-163 transferred to Sec. 19a-312 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 19a-314 re penalty for violation of this section.

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No person shall be buried, interred or entombed in any burying ground, or in any vault, niche, crypt, columbarium, mausoleum or structure wholly or partially above the surface of the ground, unless such burying ground or structure is located within the confines of an established cemetery which is owned, managed or controlled by a municipality, ecclesiastical society, cemetery association or corporation, as provided in this chapter, or a private burying ground or structure approved by the Department of Public Health.
(P.A. 75-138; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-161a transferred to Sec. 19a-313 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

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Any officer, manager or agent of any corporation or association, or any other person, who violates any provision of section 19a-296, 19a-307, 19a-310, 19a-311 or 19a-312 shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both; but no provision of said sections shall prohibit or apply to the construction of temporary receiving vaults.
(1949 Rev., S. 4709.)
History: Sec. 19-164 transferred to Sec. 19a-314 in 1983.

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Sec. 19a-314a. Disclosure of dispute resolution procedure relating to the sale of any item or service by a town, ecclesiastical society or cemetery association which owns, manages or controls a cemetery. "Cemetery" defined. (a) As used in this section, "cemetery" means any place performing interments on or after October 1, 1995.
(b) Each town, ecclesiastical society or cemetery association which owns, manages or controls a cemetery shall disclose to each consumer, in writing at the time of the sale of any item or service, any dispute resolution procedure of such town, ecclesiastical society or cemetery association. The written disclosure shall also indicate that the consumer may contact the Department of Public Health or local public health director if the consumer has any complaints which concern violations of sections 7-64 to 7-72, inclusive, 19a-310 and 19a-311.
(P.A. 95-184, S. 1, 2; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 01-195, S. 140, 181.)
History: P.A. 95-257 authorized substitution of Commissioner and Department of Public Health for Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 11, 2001.

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Sec. 19a-315. "Ancient burial place", "burial ground authority" and "grave marker" defined. For purposes of sections 19a-315 to 19a-315c, inclusive:
(1) "Ancient burial place" means any tract of land within any municipality which has been used or has been in existence as a burial ground for more than one hundred years;
(2) "Burial ground authority" means the town, ecclesiastical society or cemetery association, as the case may be; and
(3) "Grave marker" means any of the following when used to mark graves in an ancient burial place, cemetery or burial ground: Tombs, monuments, gravestones, or fragments thereof and fences or curbing which enclose individual or family burial plots.
(P.A. 84-280, S. 1; P.A. 85-319, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-319 included the definition of "grave marker" and applied the definitions to Sec. 19a-315c.

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No municipality shall alienate or appropriate any ancient burial place to any use other than that of a burial ground. No portion of any ancient burial place shall be taken for public use without the approval of the General Assembly. If any ancient burial place is appropriated for any other use and the bodies buried therein or the grave markers marking the same are removed, the burial ground authority shall preserve a record of such removal indicating the date of such removal and the site or place to which such removal was made.
(P.A. 84-280, S. 2; P.A. 85-319, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 85-319 inserted "grave marker" in place of "monuments, gravestones or other memorials".
See Sec. 53a-218 re penalty for interference with cemetery or burial ground.
See Sec. 53a-219 re penalty for unlawful possession or sale of gravestones.

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No grave marker within any cemetery or burial place shall be destroyed, injured or removed except in accordance with the provisions of either this section or section 19a-315c. Any such grave marker may be removed for the purpose of reproduction, preservation or display in an accredited museum upon (1) (A) the consent of the owner of the burial rights for the lot in which such grave marker is placed or the consent of a lineal descendant of the deceased, whose qualifications for giving such consent shall be determined by the burial ground authority, or (B) if such owner or qualified lineal descendant is unknown or does not respond within thirty days to a request for consent sent by registered or certified mail to such person's last known address, with the consent of the burial ground authority, and (2) the order of the probate court for the district in which such burial lot is located. Upon written application of such consenting owner, qualified lineal descendant or burial ground authority, the probate court may, after a hearing, with notice of such hearing having been given to the burial ground authority, the owner, the qualified lineal descendant, the Connecticut Historical Commission and otherwise as the court deems appropriate, order the removal of such grave marker if it finds that such removal is necessary or desirable for the protection and preservation of such grave marker.
(P.A. 84-280, S. 3; P.A. 85-319, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 85-319 made numerous changes concerning giving of consent and removed provisions concerning subjects covered by Sec. 19a-315c.
See Sec. 53a-218 re penalty for interference with cemetery or burial ground.
See Sec. 53a-219 re penalty for unlawful possession or sale of gravestones.

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(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 19a-315b, a burial ground authority shall have the right to properly maintain an ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place, which right shall include: (1) Repair, rehabilitation, repositioning or resetting of grave markers in accordance with the rules and regulations of the burial ground authority; and (2) the renovation of the ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place as a whole.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a), no renovation of an ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place as a whole may be commenced until after: (1) The burial ground authority has conspicuously posted within the ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place, for a period of not less than ninety days, a notice that such renovation shall take place; and (2) the burial ground authority, at least ninety days before commencing a renovation, has provided written notice to the probate court having jurisdiction over the location of the burial place and to the Connecticut Historical Commission. Such notice to the probate court shall describe the renovation plans and include photographs of any area or grave marker involved.
(c) Following the notice period provided for in subsection (b), and subject to the provisions of subsection (d) a burial ground authority may renovate an ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place by: (1) The removal of any or all fencing, railing or curbing, if such removal is determined by the burial ground authority to be necessary or desirable for the proper and efficient maintenance of the ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place as a whole; and (2) the repositioning or resetting of any monument or tombstone.
(d) At any time prior to the expiration of the notice period provided for in subsection (b), the probate court may assume jurisdiction over such renovation and order a hearing, with notice of such hearing to be given to the burial ground authority, the owner, the qualified lineal descendant, the Connecticut Historical Commission and otherwise as the court deems appropriate, to determine whether such renovation is necessary for the proper and efficient maintenance of the ancient burial place, cemetery or burial place as a whole. Upon notice of such hearing, the burial ground authority shall not proceed with such renovation except in accordance with the order of the probate court.
(P.A. 85-319, S. 4.)

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Reserved for future use.

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