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2009 Texas Code
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 8. DEATH AND DISPOSITION OF THE BODY
CHAPTER 711. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CEMETERIES

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 8. DEATH AND DISPOSITION OF THE BODY

SUBTITLE C. CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES

CHAPTER 711. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CEMETERIES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 711.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Burial park" means a tract of land that is used or intended

to be used for interment in graves.

(1-a) "Campus" means the area:

(A) within the boundaries of one or more adjacent tracts,

parcels, or lots under common ownership;

(B) on which the principal church building and related

structures and facilities of an organized religious society or

sect are located; and

utility, or pipeline purposes.

(2) "Cemetery" means a place that is used or intended to be used

for interment, and includes a graveyard, burial park, mausoleum,

or any other area containing one or more graves.

(2-a) "Cemetery element" means a grave, memorial, crypt,

mausoleum, columbarium, or other item that is associated with the

cemetery, including a fence, road, curb, wall, path, gate, or

bench and the lighting and landscaping.

(3) "Cemetery organization" means:

(A) an unincorporated association of plot owners not operated

for profit that is authorized by its articles of association to

conduct a business for cemetery purposes; or

(B) a corporation, either for profit or not for profit, that is

authorized by its articles of incorporation to conduct a business

for cemetery purposes.

(4) "Cemetery purpose" means a purpose necessary or incidental

to establishing, maintaining, managing, operating, improving, or

conducting a cemetery, interring remains, or caring for,

preserving, and embellishing cemetery property.

(5) "Columbarium" means a durable, fireproof structure, or a

room or other space in a durable, fireproof structure, containing

niches and used or intended to be used to contain cremated

remains.

(6) "Cremated remains" means the bone fragments remaining after

the cremation process, which may include the residue of any

foreign materials that were cremated with the human remains.

(7) "Cremation" means the irreversible process of reducing human

remains to bone fragments through extreme heat and evaporation,

which may include the processing or the pulverization of bone

fragments.

(8) "Crematory" means a structure containing a furnace used or

intended to be used for the cremation of human remains.

(9) "Crematory and columbarium" means a durable, fireproof

structure containing both a crematory and columbarium.

(10) "Crypt" means a chamber in a mausoleum of sufficient size

to inter human remains.

(11) "Directors" means the governing body of a cemetery

organization.

(12) "Entombment" means interment in a crypt.

(13) "Funeral establishment" means a place of business used in

the care and preparation for interment or transportation of human

remains, or any place where one or more persons, either as sole

owner, in copartnership, or through corporate status, are engaged

or represent themselves to be engaged in the business of

embalming or funeral directing.

(14) "Grave" means a space of ground that contains interred

human remains or is in a burial park and that is used or intended

to be used for interment of human remains in the ground.

(15) "Human remains" means the body of a decedent.

(16) "Interment" means the permanent disposition of remains by

entombment, burial, or placement in a niche.

(17) "Interment right" means the right to inter the remains of

one decedent in a plot.

(18) "Inurnment" means the placement of cremated remains in an

urn.

(19) "Lawn crypt" means a subsurface receptacle installed in

multiple units for ground burial of human remains.

(20) "Mausoleum" means a durable, fireproof structure used or

intended to be used for entombment.

(20-a) "Memorial" means a headstone, tombstone, gravestone,

monument, or other marker denoting a grave.

(21) "Niche" means a space in a columbarium used or intended to

be used for the placement of cremated remains in an urn or other

container.

(22) "Nonperpetual care cemetery" means a cemetery that is not a

perpetual care cemetery.

(23) "Perpetual care" or "endowment care" means the maintenance,

repair, and care of all places in the cemetery.

(24) "Perpetual care cemetery" or "endowment care cemetery"

means a cemetery for the benefit of which a perpetual care trust

fund is established as provided by Chapter 712.

(25) "Plot" means space in a cemetery owned by an individual or

organization that is used or intended to be used for interment,

including a grave or adjoining graves, a crypt or adjoining

crypts, a lawn crypt or adjoining lawn crypts, or a niche or

adjoining niches.

(26) "Plot owner" means a person:

(A) in whose name a plot is listed in a cemetery organization's

office as the owner of the exclusive right of sepulture; or

(B) who holds, from a cemetery organization, a certificate of

ownership or other instrument of conveyance of the exclusive

right of sepulture in a particular plot in the organization's

cemetery.

(27) "Prepaid funeral contract" means a written contract

providing for prearranged or prepaid funeral services or funeral

merchandise.

(28) "Remains" means either human remains or cremated remains.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 212, eff. Sept. 1,

1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1389, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

106, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.002. DISPOSITION OF REMAINS; DUTY TO INTER. (a)

Unless a decedent has left directions in writing for the

disposition of the decedent's remains as provided in Subsection

(g), the following persons, in the priority listed, have the

right to control the disposition, including cremation, of the

decedent's remains, shall inter the remains, and are liable for

the reasonable cost of interment:

(1) the person designated in a written instrument signed by the

decedent;

(2) the decedent's surviving spouse;

(3) any one of the decedent's surviving adult children;

(4) either one of the decedent's surviving parents;

(5) any one of the decedent's surviving adult siblings; or

(6) any adult person in the next degree of kinship in the order

named by law to inherit the estate of the decedent.

(b) The written instrument referred to in Subsection (a)(1)

shall be in substantially the following form:

APPOINTMENT OF AGENT TO CONTROL DISPOSITION OF REMAINS

I, _____________________________________________________,

(your name and address)

being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my

desire that, upon my death, the disposition of my remains shall

be controlled by

__________________________________________________

(name of agent)

in accordance with Section 711.002 of the Health and Safety Code

and, with respect to that subject only, I hereby appoint such

person as my agent (attorney-in-fact).

All decisions made by my agent with respect to the disposition of

my remains, including cremation, shall be binding.

SPECIAL DIRECTIONS:

Set forth below are any special directions limiting the power

granted to my agent:

________________________________________________________________

AGENT:

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________________

Acceptance of Appointment: ________________________________

(signature of agent)

Date of Signature: ________________________________________

SUCCESSORS:

If my agent dies, becomes legally disabled, resigns, or refuses

to act, I hereby appoint the following persons (each to act alone

and successively, in the order named) to serve as my agent

(attorney-in-fact) to control the disposition of my remains as

authorized by this document:

1. First Successor

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________________

Acceptance of Appointment: ________________________________

(signature of first successor)

Date of Signature: ________________________________________

2. Second Successor

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________________

Acceptance of Appointment: ________________________________

(signature of second successor)

Date of Signature: ________________________________________

DURATION:

This appointment becomes effective upon my death.

PRIOR APPOINTMENTS REVOKED:

I hereby revoke any prior appointment of any person to control

the disposition of my remains.

RELIANCE:

I hereby agree that any cemetery organization, business operating

a crematory or columbarium or both, funeral director or embalmer,

or funeral establishment who receives a copy of this document may

act under it. Any modification or revocation of this document is

not effective as to any such party until that party receives

actual notice of the modification or revocation. No such party

shall be liable because of reliance on a copy of this document.

ASSUMPTION:

THE AGENT, AND EACH SUCCESSOR AGENT, BY ACCEPTING THIS

APPOINTMENT, ASSUMES THE OBLIGATIONS PROVIDED IN, AND IS BOUND BY

THE PROVISIONS OF, SECTION 711.002 OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

Signed this ________ day of _____________________, 19___.

__________________________

(your signature)

State of ____________________

County of ___________________

This document was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by

_____________________________ (name of principal).

_________________________________

(signature of notarial officer)

(Seal, if any, of notary)

_________________________________

(printed name)

My commission expires:

_________________________________

(a)(1) if the wording of the instrument complies substantially

with Subsection (b), the instrument is properly completed, the

instrument is signed by the decedent, the agent, and each

successor agent, and the signature of the decedent is

acknowledged. Such written instrument may be modified or revoked

only by a subsequent written instrument that complies with this

subsection.

(d) A person listed in Subsection (a) has the right, duty, and

liability provided by that subsection only if there is no person

in a priority listed before the person.

(e) If there is no person with the duty to inter under

Subsection (a) and:

(1) an inquest is held, the person conducting the inquest shall

inter the remains; and

(2) an inquest is not held, the county in which the death

occurred shall inter the remains.

(f) A person who represents that the person knows the identity

of a decedent and, in order to procure the disposition, including

cremation, of the decedent's remains, signs an order or

statement, other than a death certificate, warrants the identity

of the decedent and is liable for all damages that result,

directly or indirectly, from that warrant.

(g) A person may provide written directions for the disposition,

including cremation, of the person's remains in a will, a prepaid

funeral contract, or a written instrument signed and acknowledged

by such person. The directions may govern the inscription to be

placed on a grave marker attached to any plot in which the

decedent had the right of sepulture at the time of death and in

which plot the decedent is subsequently interred. The directions

may be modified or revoked only by a subsequent writing signed

and acknowledged by such person. The person otherwise entitled to

control the disposition of a decedent's remains under this

section shall faithfully carry out the directions of the decedent

to the extent that the decedent's estate or the person

controlling the disposition are financially able to do so.

(h) If the directions are in a will, they shall be carried out

immediately without the necessity of probate. If the will is not

probated or is declared invalid for testamentary purposes, the

directions are valid to the extent to which they have been acted

on in good faith.

(i) A cemetery organization, a business operating a crematory or

columbarium or both, a funeral director or an embalmer, or a

funeral establishment shall not be liable for carrying out the

written directions of a decedent or the directions of any person

who represents that the person is entitled to control the

disposition of the decedent's remains.

(j) In the absence of evidence of a contrary intent, it is

presumed that a married woman directs that her name, as it

appears on the grave marker for the plot in which she is

interred, include the same last name she used at the time of her

death.

(k) Any dispute among any of the persons listed in Subsection

(a) concerning their right to control the disposition, including

cremation, of a decedent's remains shall be resolved by a court

of competent jurisdiction. A cemetery organization or funeral

establishment shall not be liable for refusing to accept the

decedent's remains, or to inter or otherwise dispose of the

decedent's remains, until it receives a court order or other

suitable confirmation that the dispute has been resolved or

settled.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 213, eff. Sept. 1,

1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 967, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts

1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1385, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.

Sec. 711.003. RECORDS OF INTERMENT. A record shall be kept of

each interment in a cemetery. The record must include:

(1) the date the remains are received;

(2) the date the remains are interred;

(3) the name and age of the person interred if those facts can

be conveniently obtained; and

(4) the identity of the plot in which the remains are interred.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Sec. 711.004. REMOVAL OF REMAINS. (a) Remains interred in a

cemetery may be removed from a plot in the cemetery with the

written consent of the cemetery organization operating the

cemetery and the written consent of the current plot owner or

owners and the following persons, in the priority listed:

(1) the decedent's surviving spouse;

(2) the decedent's surviving adult children;

(3) the decedent's surviving parents;

(4) the decedent's adult siblings; or

(5) the adult person in the next degree of kinship in the order

named by law to inherit the estate of the decedent.

(b) A person listed in Subsection (a) may consent to the removal

only if there is no person in a priority listed before that

person.

obtained, the remains may be removed by permission of a district

court of the county in which the cemetery is located. Before the

date of application to the court for permission to remove remains

under this subsection, notice must be given to:

(1) the cemetery organization operating the cemetery in which

the remains are interred or if the cemetery organization cannot

be located or does not exist, the Texas Historical Commission;

(2) each person whose consent is required for removal of the

remains under Subsection (a); and

(3) any other person that the court requires to be served.

(d) For the purposes of Subsection (c) and except as provided by

this subsection or Subsection (k), personal notice must be given

not later than the 11th day before the date of application to the

court for permission to remove the remains, or notice by

certified or registered mail must be given not later than the

16th day before the date of application. In an emergency

circumstance described by Subsection (l) that necessitates

immediate removal of remains from a plot, the court shall hear an

application for permission to remove remains under Subsection (c)

not later than the first business day after the application is

made. In an emergency circumstance described by this subsection,

personal notice may be given on the date the application is made.

(e) Subsections (a)-(d) and (k) do not apply to the removal of

remains:

(1) from one plot to another plot in the same cemetery, if the

cemetery:

(A) is a family, fraternal, or community cemetery that is not

larger than 10 acres;

(B) is owned or operated by an unincorporated association of

plot owners not operated for profit;

denomination, or an entity solely administering the temporalities

of a church or religious society or denomination; or

(D) is a public cemetery owned by this state, a county, or a

municipality;

(2) by the cemetery organization from a plot for which the

purchase price is past due and unpaid, to another suitable place;

(3) on the order of a court or person who conducts inquests; or

(4) from a plot in a cemetery owned and operated by the

Veterans' Land Board.

(f) Except as is authorized for a justice of the peace acting as

coroner or medical examiner under Chapter 49, Code of Criminal

Procedure, remains may not be removed from a cemetery except on

the written order of the state registrar or the state registrar's

designee. The cemetery organization shall keep a duplicate copy

of the order as part of its records. The Texas Funeral Service

Commission may adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(g) A person who removes remains from a cemetery shall keep a

record of the removal that includes:

(1) the date the remains are removed;

(2) the name and age at death of the decedent if those facts can

be conveniently obtained;

(3) the place to which the remains are removed; and

(4) the cemetery and plot from which the remains are removed.

(h) If the remains are not reinterred, the person who removes

the remains shall:

(1) make and keep a record of the disposition of the remains;

and

(2) not later than the 30th day after the date the remains are

removed, provide notice by certified mail to the Texas Funeral

Service Commission and the Department of State Health Services of

the person's intent not to reinter the remains and the reason the

remains will not be reinterred.

(i) A person who removes remains from a cemetery shall give the

cemetery organization operating the cemetery a copy of the record

made as required by Subsections (g) and (h).

(j) A cemetery organization may remove remains from a plot in

the cemetery and transfer the remains to another plot in the same

cemetery without the written consent required under Subsection

(a) if the cemetery seeks consent by sending written notice by

certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known

address of the current owner of the plot from which the remains

are to be removed or to the person designated under Subsection

(a). The notice must indicate that the remains will be removed,

the reason for the removal of the remains, and the proposed

location of the reinterment of the remains. The cemetery may

transfer the remains to another plot in accordance with this

subsection if an objection is not received in response to the

notice before the 31st day after the date the notice is sent. A

cemetery may not remove remains under this subsection for a

fraudulent purpose or to allow the sale of the plot in which the

remains are located to another person.

(k) In an emergency circumstance described by Subsection (l)

that necessitates immediate removal of remains before the date on

which the court is required to hear an application for permission

to remove remains under Subsection (d), a cemetery organization

may remove remains from a plot in the cemetery and transfer the

remains to another plot in the same cemetery without the court

hearing. A cemetery association that removes remains under this

subsection shall send written notice of the removal by certified

mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the

person designated under Subsection (a) not later than the fifth

day after the date the remains are removed. The notice must

indicate that the remains were removed, the reason for the

removal of the remains, and the location of the reinterment of

the remains.

(l) For purposes of Subsections (d) and (k), "emergency

circumstance" means:

(1) a natural disaster; or

(2) an error in the interment of remains.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 214, eff. Sept. 1,

1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 488, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts

2003, 78th Leg., ch. 504, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003,

78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.007. NUISANCE; ABATEMENT AND INJUNCTION. (a) A

district court of the county in which a cemetery is located may,

by order, abate the cemetery as a nuisance and enjoin its

continuance if the cemetery is:

(1) maintained, located, or used in violation of this chapter or

Chapter 712; or

(2) neglected so that it is offensive to the inhabitants of the

surrounding section.

(b) The proceeding may be brought by:

(1) the attorney general;

(2) the Banking Commissioner of Texas;

(3) the governing body of a municipality with a population of

more than 25,000, if the cemetery is located in the municipality

or not farther than five miles from the municipality;

(4) the district attorney of the county, if the cemetery is

located in an area of the county not described by Subdivision

(3);

(5) the owner of a residence:

(A) in or near the municipality in which the cemetery is

located; or

(B) in the area proscribed for the location of a cemetery by

Section 711.008;

(6) the Texas Funeral Service Commission; or

(7) the owner of a plot in the cemetery.

person responsible for the nuisance if a cemetery nuisance exists

or is threatened.

(d) If a cemetery nuisance under Subsection (a)(2) is located in

a municipality, the governing body of the municipality may

authorize the removal of all bodies, monuments, tombs, or other

similar items from the cemetery to a perpetual care cemetery.

(e) Notice of an action under this section must be provided to

the Texas Historical Commission and to the county historical

commission of the county in which the cemetery is located. The

Texas Historical Commission and the county historical commission

may intervene and become parties to the suit.

(f) In an action under this section, the court shall determine:

(1) whether the cemetery nuisance must be abated by repair and

restoration or by removal of the cemetery; and

(2) the party or parties liable for the costs associated with

the abatement.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 33, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.008. LOCATION OF CEMETERY. (a) Except as provided by

Subsections (b), (f), (g), and (k), an individual, corporation,

partnership, firm, trust, or association may not establish or

operate a cemetery, or use any land for the interment of remains,

located:

(1) in or within one mile of the boundaries of a municipality

with a population of 5,000 to 25,000;

(2) in or within two miles of the boundaries of a municipality

with a population of 25,000 to 50,000;

(3) in or within three miles of the boundaries of a municipality

with a population of 50,000 to 100,000;

(4) in or within four miles of the boundaries of a municipality

with a population of 100,000 to 200,000; or

(5) in or within five miles of the boundaries of a municipality

with a population of at least 200,000.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to:

(1) a cemetery heretofore established and operating;

(2) the establishment and use of a columbarium by an organized

religious society or sect that is exempt from income taxation

under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being

listed under Section 501(c)(3) of that code, as part of or

attached to the principal church building owned by the society or

sect;

(3) the establishment and use of a columbarium by an organized

religious society or sect that is exempt from income taxation

under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being

listed under Section 501(c)(3) of that code, on land that:

(A) is owned by the society or sect; and

(B) is part of the campus on which an existing principal church

building is located;

(4) the establishment and use of a columbarium on the campus of

a private or independent institution of higher education, as

defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, that is wholly or

substantially controlled, managed, owned, or supported by or

otherwise affiliated with an organized religious society or sect

that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a),

Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section

501(c)(3) of that code, if a place of worship is located on the

campus; or

(5) the establishment and use of a mausoleum that is:

(A) constructed beneath the principal church building owned by

an organized religious society or sect that:

(i) is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a),

Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section

501(c)(3) of that code; and

(ii) has recognized religious traditions and practices of

interring the remains of ordained clergy in or below the

principal church building; and

(B) used only for the interment of the remains of ordained

clergy of that organized religious society or sect.

established and operating on or before September 1, 2009.

(d) Subsection (a) does not apply to a cemetery established and

operating before September 1, 1995, in a county with a population

of more than 250,000 and less than 251,000 that borders the Gulf

of Mexico.

(e) For the purpose of determining where a cemetery may be

located under Subsection (a), the boundary of an area annexed by

a municipality is not considered to be a boundary of the

municipality if no more than 10 percent of the boundary of the

annexed area is composed of a part of the boundary of the

annexing municipality as it existed immediately before the

annexation.

(f) This subsection applies only to a municipality with a

population of at least 60,000 that is located in a county with a

population of no more than 155,000. Not later than December 1,

2001, a charitable nonprofit corporation may file a written

application with the governing body of a municipality to

establish or use a cemetery located inside the boundaries of the

municipality. The municipality by ordinance shall prescribe the

information to be included in the application. The governing body

by ordinance may authorize the establishment or use of a cemetery

located inside the boundaries of the municipality if the

municipality determines and states in the ordinance that the

establishment or use of the cemetery does not adversely affect

public health, safety, and welfare.

(g) Not later than December 1, 2003, a corporation may file a

written application with the governing body of a municipality

that has a population of at least 27,000 and not more than 30,000

and that is located in a county with a population of at least

245,000 and not more than 250,000 to establish or use a cemetery

located outside the municipality but within two miles of the

municipal boundaries. The municipality by ordinance shall

prescribe the information to be included in the application. The

governing body by ordinance may authorize the establishment or

use of the cemetery if the municipality determines and states in

the ordinance that the establishment or use of the cemetery does

not adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.

(h) to (j) Deleted by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 7,

eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

(k) This subsection applies only to a municipality with a

population of 110,000 or more that is located in a county with a

population of less than 127,000. Not later than September 1,

1994, a person may file a written application with the governing

body of the municipality to establish or use a cemetery located

inside the boundaries of the municipality. The municipality by

ordinance shall prescribe the information to be included in the

application. The governing body by ordinance may authorize the

establishment or use of a cemetery located inside the boundaries

of the municipality if the municipality determines and states in

the ordinance that the establishment or use of the cemetery does

not adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 215, 216, eff.

Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 77, eff. Sept.

1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 736, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;

Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 1, eff. May 21, 2001; Acts

2001, 77th Leg., ch. 631, Sec. 1, eff. June 13, 2001; Acts 2001,

77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 39, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th

Leg., ch. 98, Sec. 1, eff. May 20, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

106, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

1026, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

373, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

487, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.009. AUTHORITY OF CEMETERY KEEPER. (a) The

superintendent, sexton, or other person in charge of a cemetery

has the same powers, duties, and immunities granted by law to:

(1) a police officer in the municipality in which the cemetery

is located; or

(2) a constable or sheriff of the county in which the cemetery

is located if the cemetery is outside a municipality.

(b) A person who is granted authority under Subsection (a) shall

maintain order and enforce the cemetery organization's rules,

state law, and municipal ordinances in the cemetery over which

that person has charge and as near the cemetery as necessary to

protect cemetery property.

municipality with a popluation of 40,000 or more or in a county

with a population of 290,000 or more.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

345, Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 711.010. UNKNOWN OR ABANDONED CEMETERY. (a) The owner of

property on which an unknown cemetery is discovered or on which

an abandoned cemetery is located may not construct improvements

on the property in a manner that would further disturb the

cemetery until the human remains interred in the cemetery are

removed under a written order issued by the state registrar or

the state registrar's designee under Section 711.004(f) and under

an order of a district court as provided by this section.

(b) On petition of the owner of the property, a district court

of the county in which an unknown cemetery is discovered or an

abandoned cemetery is located may order the removal of any

dedication for cemetery purposes that affects the property if the

court finds that the removal of the dedication is in the public

interest. If a court orders the removal of a dedication of a

cemetery and all human remains on the property have not

previously been removed, the court shall order the removal of the

human remains from the cemetery to a perpetual care cemetery.

notice of a petition filed under Subsection (b) must be given to

the Texas Historical Commission and to the county historical

commission of the county in which the cemetery is located. The

Texas Historical Commission and the county historical commission

may intervene and become parties to the suit.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 703, Sec. 1, eff. June 18,

1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

251, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.0105. METHOD OF REMOVAL OF REMAINS. (a) The removal

of remains authorized under this chapter shall be supervised by a

cemetery keeper, a licensed funeral director, a medical examiner,

a coroner, or a professional archeologist.

(b) The person removing the remains shall make a good faith

effort to locate and remove all human remains, any casket or

other covering of the remains, and any funerary objects

associated with the remains.

court, medical examiner, coroner, other authorized official, or

next of kin approves a different disposition of the remains.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.011. FILING RECORD OF UNKNOWN CEMETERY. (a) A person

who discovers an unknown or abandoned cemetery shall file notice

of the cemetery with the county clerk of the county in which the

cemetery is located not later than the 10th day after the date of

the discovery. The notice must contain a legal description of

the land on which the unknown or abandoned cemetery was found and

describe the approximate location of the cemetery and the

evidence of the cemetery that was discovered.

(b) A county clerk may not charge a fee for filing notice under

this section.

Texas Historical Commission and file the notice in the deed

records of the county, with an index entry referencing the land

on which the cemetery was discovered.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 703, Sec. 1, eff. June 18,

1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.012. RULES. (a) The Finance Commission of Texas may

adopt rules to enforce and administer Sections 711.003, 711.004,

711.007, 711.008, 711.0105, 711.021-711.024, 711.032-711.036,

711.038, 711.040-711.042, 711.052, 711.061, and 711.062 relating

to perpetual care cemeteries.

(b) The Texas Funeral Service Commission may adopt rules,

establish procedures, and prescribe forms to enforce and

administer Sections 711.003, 711.008, 711.0105, 711.021-711.034,

711.038, 711.0395, 711.041, 711.042, 711.052, 711.061, and

711.062 relating to cemeteries that are not perpetual care

cemeteries.

(1) enforce and administer Sections 711.010 and 711.011; and

(2) enforce and administer Sections 711.004, 711.007, 711.0105,

711.035, and 711.036 relating to cemeteries that are not

perpetual care cemeteries.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 34, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2009.

SUBCHAPTER B. CEMETERY CORPORATIONS

Sec. 711.021. FORMATION OF CORPORATION TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE

CEMETERY. (a) An individual, corporation, partnership, firm,

trust, or association may not engage in a business for cemetery

purposes in this state unless the person is a corporation

organized for those purposes.

(b) A corporation conducting a business for cemetery purposes,

including the sale of plots, may be formed only as provided by

this section. The corporation must be either:

(1) a nonprofit corporation organized in accordance with Section

A or B, Article 3.01, Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article

1396-3.01, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), or with Section

711.022; or

(2) a private corporation operated for profit.

1947, but before September 1, 1993, must state whether the

corporation:

(1) is operated for profit or not for profit; and

(2) is operating a perpetual care cemetery or a nonperpetual

care cemetery.

(d) A corporation formed before September 3, 1945, under

statutory authority other than Section 5, Chapter 340, Acts of

the 49th Legislature, Regular Session, 1945 (Article 912a-5,

Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to maintain and operate a

cemetery is governed by this chapter only to the extent that this

chapter does not conflict with the charter or articles of

incorporation of the corporation.

(e) This section does not apply to a corporation chartered by

the state before September 3, 1945, that, under its charter,

bylaws, or dedication, created a perpetual care trust fund and

maintains that fund in accordance with the corporation's trust

agreement, Chapter 712, and this chapter. The corporation may

operate a perpetual care cemetery without amending the

corporation's charter as if it had been incorporated under this

section.

(f) Any cemetery that begins its initial operations on or after

September 1, 1993, shall be operated as a perpetual care cemetery

in accordance with Chapter 712.

(g) This section does not apply to:

(1) a family, fraternal, or community cemetery that is not

larger than 10 acres;

(2) an unincorporated association of plot owners not operated

for profit;

(3) a church, a religious society or denomination, or an entity

solely administering the temporalities of a church or religious

society or denomination; or

(4) a public cemetery belonging to this state or a county or

municipality.

(h) A cemetery corporation, including a corporation described by

Subsection (d), that does not operate as a perpetual care

cemetery in accordance with Chapter 712 may not use the words

"perpetual care" or "endowment care," or any other term that

suggests "perpetual care" or "endowment care" standards, in:

(1) the cemetery's name; or

(2) any advertising relating to the cemetery.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 405, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 711.022. FORMATION OF NONPROFIT CEMETERY CORPORATION BY

PLOT OWNERS. (a) Plot owners may organize a nonprofit

corporation to receive title to land previously dedicated to

cemetery purposes.

(b) The plot owners must:

(1) publish notice of the time and place of the organizational

meeting in a newspaper in the county, if there is a newspaper,

for 30 days before the date of the meeting; and

(2) post written notice at the cemetery of the time and place of

the meeting for 30 days before the date of the meeting.

meeting shall decide whether to incorporate and to convey the

land to the corporation.

(d) If the plot owners vote to incorporate, at the same meeting

they shall select from the plot owners a board of directors to be

named in the charter.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 711.023. RIGHTS OF PLOT OWNERS IN CEMETERY OPERATED BY

NONPROFIT CEMETERY CORPORATION. (a) A person who purchases a

plot from a nonprofit cemetery corporation is a shareholder of

the corporation. The person may vote in the election of corporate

officers and on other matters to the same extent as a stockholder

in another corporation.

(b) An owner of a plot in a cemetery operated by a nonprofit

corporation is a shareholder in any corporation that owns the

cemetery. The plot owner may exercise the rights and privileges

of a shareholder, whether the owner acquired title to the plot

from the corporation or before the corporation was organized.

corporation formed before September 1, 1963, if:

(1) the corporation was formed under Subdivision 87, Article

1302, Revised Statutes; and

(2) the charter or the articles of incorporation of the

corporation provide that the corporation has no capital stock.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1284, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 711.024. AUTHORITY OF NONPROFIT CEMETERY CORPORATION. A

nonprofit cemetery corporation organized by plot owners may

divide cemetery property into lots and subdivisions for cemetery

purposes and charge assessments on the property for the purposes

of general improvement and maintenance.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

SUBCHAPTER C. CEMETERY ORGANIZATIONS

Sec. 711.031. RULES; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A cemetery

organization may adopt and enforce rules:

(1) concerning the use, care, control, management, restriction,

and protection of the cemetery operated by the cemetery

organization;

(2) to restrict the use of cemetery property;

(3) to regulate the placement, uniformity, class, and kind of

markers, monuments, effigies, and other structures in any part of

the cemetery;

(4) to regulate the planting and care of plants in the cemetery;

(5) to prevent the interment of remains not entitled to be

interred in the cemetery;

(6) to prevent the use of a plot for a purpose that violates the

cemetery organization's restrictions;

(7) to regulate the conduct of persons on cemetery property and

to prevent improper meetings at the cemetery; and

(8) for other purposes the directors consider necessary for the

proper conduct of the cemetery organization's business, and for

the protection of the premises and the principles, plans, and

ideals on which the cemetery was organized.

(b) Rules adopted under this section must be plainly printed or

typed and maintained for inspection in the cemetery

organization's office or another place in the cemetery prescribed

by the directors.

rule adopted under this section. The cemetery organization may

recover the amount of the penalty in a civil action.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Sec. 711.032. DISCRIMINATION BY RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN

PROHIBITED. (a) A cemetery organization may not adopt or

enforce a rule that prohibits interment because of the race,

color, or national origin of a decedent.

(b) A provision of a contract entered into by a cemetery

organization or of a certificate of ownership or other instrument

of conveyance issued by a cemetery organization that prohibits

interment in a cemetery because of the race, color, or national

origin of a decedent is void.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Sec. 711.033. PROPERTY ACQUISITION BY CEMETERY ORGANIZATION;

RECORDING TITLE. (a) A cemetery organization may acquire by

purchase, donation, or devise property consisting of land, a

mausoleum, a crematory and columbarium, or other property in

which remains may be interred under law.

(b) A cemetery organization operating a cemetery located and

operated in accordance with the distance requirements prescribed

in Section 711.008 may acquire land adjacent to the cemetery for

cemetery purposes. In this subsection, "adjacent" means that some

part of the property to be acquired has a common boundary with

the existing cemetery, or a common boundary with a public

easement, a utility easement, or a railroad right-of-way, some

part of which has a common boundary with the cemetery. In no

event shall the closest points of the property to be acquired and

the cemetery be more than 200 feet apart.

title to its property with the county clerk of the county in

which the property is located if its president and secretary or

other authorized officer acknowledge a declaration executed by

the cemetery organization that describes the property and

declares the cemetery organization's intention to use the

property or a part of the property for interment purposes.

(d) Filing under Subsection (b) is constructive notice as of the

date of the filing of the use of the property for interment.

(e) A cemetery organization may by condemnation acquire property

in which remains may be interred, and the acquisition of that

property is for a public purpose.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 2, eff. May 21, 2001.

Sec. 711.034. DEDICATION. (a) A cemetery organization that

acquires property for interment purposes shall:

(1) in the case of land, survey and subdivide the property into

gardens or sections, with descriptive names or numbers, and make

a map or plat of the property showing the plots contained within

the perimeter boundary and showing a specific unique number for

each plot; or

(2) in the case of a mausoleum or a crematory and columbarium,

make a map or plat of the property delineating sections or other

divisions with descriptive names and numbers and showing a

specific unique number for each crypt, lawn crypt, or niche.

(b) The cemetery organization shall file the map or plat with

the county clerk of each county in which the property or any part

of the property is located.

written certificate or declaration of dedication of the property

delineated by the map or plat, dedicating the property

exclusively to cemetery purposes. The certificate or declaration

must be:

(1) in a form prescribed by the directors or officers of the

cemetery organization;

(2) signed by the president or vice-president and the secretary

of the cemetery organization, or by another person authorized by

the directors; and

(3) acknowledged.

(d) Filing a map or plat and a certificate or declaration under

this section dedicates the property for cemetery purposes and is

constructive notice of that dedication.

(e) The certificate or declaration may contain a provision

permitting the directors by order to resurvey and change the

shape and size of the property for which the associated map or

plat is filed if that change does not disturb any interred

remains. If a change is made, the cemetery organization shall

file an amended map or plat and shall indicate any change in a

specific unique number assigned to a plot, crypt, lawn crypt, or

niche.

(f) The county clerk shall number and file the map or plat and

record the certificate or declaration in the county deed records.

(g) A cemetery association is civilly liable to the state in an

amount not to exceed $1,000 for each map or plat that fails to

comply with Subsection (a), (b), (c), or (e).

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 502, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1995.

Sec. 711.035. EFFECT OF DEDICATION. (a) Property may be

dedicated for cemetery purposes, and the dedication is permitted

in respect for the dead, for the disposition of remains, and in

fulfillment of a duty to and for the benefit of the public.

(b) Dedication of cemetery property and title to the exclusive

right of sepulture of a plot owner are not affected by the

dissolution of the cemetery organization, nonuse by the cemetery

organization, alienation, encumbrance, or forced sale of the

property.

because of a violation of the law against perpetuities or the law

against the suspension of the power of alienation of title to or

use of property.

(d) A railroad, street, road, alley, pipeline, telephone,

telegraph, electric line, wind turbine, cellular telephone tower,

or other public utility or thoroughfare may not be placed

through, over, or across a part of a dedicated cemetery without

the consent of:

(1) the directors of the cemetery organization that owns or

operates the cemetery; or

(2) at least two-thirds of the owners of plots in the cemetery.

(e) All property of a dedicated cemetery, including a road,

alley, or walk in the cemetery:

(1) is exempt from public improvements assessments, fees, and

public taxation; and

(2) may not be sold on execution or applied in payment of debts

due from individual owners and plots.

(f) Dedicated cemetery property shall be used exclusively for

cemetery purposes until the dedication is removed by court order

or until the maintenance of the cemetery is enjoined or abated as

a nuisance under Section 711.007.

(g) Property is considered to be dedicated cemetery property if:

(1) one or more human burials are present on the property; or

(2) a dedication of the property for cemetery use is recorded in

the deed records of the county where the land is located.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.036. REMOVAL OF DEDICATION. (a) A cemetery

organization may petition a district court of the county in which

its dedicated cemetery is located to remove the dedication with

respect to all or any portion of the cemetery if:

(1) all the remains have been removed from that portion of the

cemetery where the dedication is to be removed; or

(2) no interments were made in that portion of the cemetery

where the dedication is to be removed and that portion of the

cemetery is not used or necessary for interment purposes.

(b) An owner of land adjacent to a cemetery for which a cemetery

organization or other governing body does not exist may petition

a district court of the county in which the cemetery is located

to remove any human remains and the dedication for all or any

portion of the cemetery. In addition to the notice required by

Section 711.004, notice of a petition filed under this subsection

must be given to the Texas Historical Commission and to the

county historical commission of the county in which the cemetery

is located. The Texas Historical Commission and the county

historical commission may intervene and become parties to the

suit. Unknown next of kin of deceased persons buried in the

cemetery shall be served by publication of a notice in a

newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the

cemetery is located, or if there is not a newspaper of general

circulation in the county, in a newspaper of general circulation

in an adjacent county. A reasonable good faith effort shall be

made to remove all remains and monuments from the cemetery or

that portion of the cemetery for which the dedication is to be

removed.

the dedication on notice and proof satisfactory to the court that

the removal is in the public interest.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.037. LIEN AGAINST CEMETERY PROPERTY. (a) A cemetery

organization by contract may incur indebtedness as required to

conduct its business and may secure the indebtedness by mortgage,

deed of trust, or other lien against its property.

(b) A mortgage, deed of trust, or other lien placed on dedicated

cemetery property, or on cemetery property that is later

dedicated with the consent of the holder of the lien, does not

affect the dedication and is subject to the dedication. A sale on

foreclosure of the lien is subject to the dedication of the

property for cemetery purposes.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Sec. 711.038. SALE OF PLOTS. (a) A cemetery organization may

sell and convey the exclusive right of sepulture in a plot:

(1) after a map or plat and a certificate or declaration of

dedication are filed as provided by Section 711.034;

(2) subject to the rules of the cemetery organization and the

restrictions in the certificate of ownership or other instrument

of conveyance; and

(3) after payment in full of the purchase price of the plot.

(b) A certificate of ownership or other instrument evidencing

the conveyance of the exclusive right of sepulture by a cemetery

organization must be signed by the president or vice-president

and the secretary or other officers authorized by the cemetery

organization.

filed and recorded in the cemetery organization's office.

(d) A plot or a part of a plot that is conveyed as a separate

plot by a certificate of ownership or other instrument may not be

divided without the consent of the cemetery organization.

(e) A person is not required to be licensed to sell a plot in a

dedicated cemetery.

(f) A cemetery organization may not resell the exclusive right

of sepulture in a plot unless the exclusive right of sepulture

has been reacquired by the cemetery organization. A sanction or

other penalty may not be imposed on a cemetery organization that

violates this subsection unless:

(1) the state agency authorized to enforce this section provides

the cemetery organization written notice of the violation; and

(2) the cemetery organization does not correct the violation

before the 91st day after the date on which the cemetery

organization received the notice.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 19, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.039. RIGHTS OF INTERMENT IN PLOT. (a) A plot in which

the exclusive right of sepulture is conveyed is presumed to be

the separate property of the person named as grantee in the

certificate of ownership or other instrument of conveyance.

(b) The spouse of a person to whom the exclusive right of

sepulture in a plot is conveyed has a vested right of interment

of the spouse's remains in the plot while the spouse is married

to the plot owner or if the spouse is married to the plot owner

at the time of the owner's death.

or written, attached consent of the spouse of the plot owner does

not divest the spouse of the vested right of interment.

(d) The vested right of interment is terminated:

(1) on the final decree of divorce between the plot owner and

the owner's former spouse unless the decree provides otherwise;

(2) when the remains of the person having the vested right are

interred elsewhere.

(e) Unless a plot owner who has the exclusive right of sepulture

in a plot and who is interred in that plot has made a specific

disposition of the plot by express reference to the plot in the

owner's will or by written declaration filed and recorded in the

office of the cemetery organization:

(1) a grave, niche, or crypt in the plot shall be reserved for

the surviving spouse of the plot owner; and

(2) the owner's children, in order of need, may be interred in

any remaining graves, niches, or crypts of the plot without the

consent of a person claiming an interest in the plot.

(f) The surviving spouse or a child of an interred plot owner

may each waive his right of interment in the plot in favor of a

relative of the owner or relative of the owner's spouse. The

person in whose favor the waiver is made may be interred in the

plot.

(g) The exclusive right of sepulture in an unused grave, niche,

or crypt of a plot in which the plot owner has been interred may

be conveyed only by:

(1) specific disposition of the unused grave, niche, or crypt by

express reference to it in a will or by written declaration of

the plot owner filed and recorded in the office of the cemetery

organization; or

(2) the surviving spouse, if any, and the heirs-at-law of the

owner.

(h) Unless a deceased plot owner who has the exclusive right of

sepulture in a plot and who is not interred in the plot has

otherwise made specific disposition of the plot, the exclusive

right of sepulture in the plot, except the one grave, niche, or

crypt reserved for the surviving spouse, if any, vests on the

death of the owner in the owner's heirs-at-law and may be

conveyed by them.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 502, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 711.0395. MULTIPLE INTERMENTS IN SAME PLOT. A cemetery

organization may not make more than one interment in a plot

unless each owner of the plot consents to the interment.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.040. MULTIPLE OWNERS OF PLOT. Two or more owners of a

plot may designate a person to represent the plot and file with

the cemetery organization written notice of the designation. If

notice is not filed, the cemetery organization may inter or

permit an interment in the plot at the request or direction of a

registered co-owner of the plot.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Sec. 711.041. ACCESS TO CEMETERY. (a) Any person who wishes to

visit a cemetery or private burial grounds for which no public

ingress or egress is available shall have the right to reasonable

ingress and egress for the purpose of visiting the cemetery or

private burial grounds. This right of access extends only to

visitation during the hours determined by the owner or owners of

the lands under Subsection (b) or at a reasonable time as

provided by Subsection (c) and only for purposes usually

associated with cemetery visits.

(b) The owner or owners of the lands surrounding the cemetery or

private burial grounds may designate the routes of reasonable

ingress and egress and reasonable hours of availability.

the owner or owners of the lands surrounding a cemetery or

private burial grounds must allow a person to enter and exit the

owner's land for the purpose of visiting the cemetery or private

burial grounds if:

(1) the person provides written notice to the owner or owners of

the lands surrounding the cemetery or private burial grounds of

the person's visit;

(2) the person provides the notice required by Subdivision (1)

not later than the 14th day before the date the person wishes to

visit the cemetery; and

(3) the time of the visit is reasonable.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1,

1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.042. AUTHORITY OF NONPROFIT CEMETERY ORGANIZATION. A

nonprofit cemetery organization organized by plot owners may:

(1) divide cemetery property into lots and subdivisions for

cemetery purposes;

(2) charge assessments on the property for the purposes of

general improvement and maintenance; and

(3) take any action, to the same extent and for the same

purposes as a for-profit cemetery corporation, that is necessary

to carry out the organization's business purposes, which include

the business purposes necessarily incident to the burial and

disposal of human remains, including any action necessary to:

(A) convey property or other assets of the organization;

(B) borrow money;

organization to secure the organization's indebtedness or other

obligations;

(D) lend money and take security for the loan in furtherance of

its business purposes; and

(E) conduct any business activity or business directly or by or

through one or more subsidiaries.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 703, Sec. 2, eff. June 18,

1999.

SUBCHAPTER D. ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 711.051. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL; PROCEEDINGS TO

FORFEIT CHARTER FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. (a) A cemetery corporation

that violates this chapter or Chapter 712 forfeits the

corporation's charter and right to do business in this state

unless the corporation corrects the violation before the 91st day

after the date of receiving notice of the violation from the

attorney general.

(b) When the attorney general learns that a cemetery corporation

has violated this chapter or Chapter 712, the attorney general

shall serve notice of the violation on the corporation.

the date of the notice, the attorney general shall bring suit or

quo warranto proceedings for the forfeiture of the corporation's

charter and dissolution of the corporation in the district court

of any county in which the violation occurred.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Text of section as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 8

For text of section as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 11, see other Sec. 711.0515.

Sec. 711.0515. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. In addition to bringing an

action under Section 711.051, the attorney general at the request

of the Texas Funeral Service Commission may bring an action for

injunctive relief to enforce this chapter or a rule or order

adopted by the commission under this chapter.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2009.

Text of section as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 11

For text of section as added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 8, see other Sec. 711.0515.

Sec. 711.0515. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL; RULE OR ORDER OF

TEXAS FUNERAL SERVICE COMMISSION. On request of the Texas

Funeral Service Commission, the attorney general may seek to

enforce by injunction any rule or order adopted by the commission

under this chapter.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

914, Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.052. CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A person who is an

individual, firm, association, corporation, or municipality, or

an officer, agent, or employee of an individual, firm,

association, corporation, or municipality, commits an offense if

the person:

(1) engages in a business for cemetery purposes in this state

other than through a corporation organized for that purpose, if a

corporation is required by law;

(2) fails or refuses to keep records of interment as required by

Sections 711.003 and 711.004;

(3) sells, offers to sell, or advertises for sale a plot or the

exclusive right of sepulture in a plot for purposes of

speculation or investment; or

(4) represents through advertising or printed material that a

retail department will be established for the resale of the plots

of plot purchasers, that specific improvements will be made in

the cemetery, or that specific merchandise or services will be

furnished to a plot owner, unless adequate funds or reserves are

created by the cemetery organization for the represented purpose.

(b) A cemetery organization or an officer, agent, or employee of

the cemetery organization commits an offense if the cemetery

organization, officer, agent, or employee offers any inducement,

pecuniary or otherwise, to any person or entity for the purpose

of securing or attempting to secure business for that cemetery

organization. This subsection does not prohibit the offering or

payment by a cemetery organization of any such inducement,

pecuniary or otherwise, to an officer, employee, agent,

subcontractor, or representative of the cemetery organization.

the cemetery organization commits an offense if the cemetery

organization, officer, agent, or employee of a cemetery

organization offers a free plot in a drawing, in a lottery, or in

another manner, unless the offer is for the immediate burial of

an indigent person.

(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 217, eff. Sept. 1,

1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 711.0521. ACCESS TO CEMETERIES; CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A

person who is an individual, firm, association, corporation, or

municipality, or an officer, agent, or employee of an individual,

firm, association, corporation, or municipality, commits an

offense if the person interferes with a person's reasonable right

to ingress and egress under Section 711.041.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

263, Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 711.053. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commissioner"

means the banking commissioner of Texas.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 711.054. ENFORCEMENT BY FINANCE COMMISSION OF TEXAS. The

Finance Commission of Texas may use remedies available under

Chapter 712 to enforce a section listed under Section 711.012(a)

relating to perpetual care cemeteries.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 711.055. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER. (a) Chapter 2001,

Government Code, applies to a proceeding under this section.

(b) After notice and opportunity for hearing, the commissioner

may impose an administrative penalty on a person who:

(1) violates this chapter or a final order of the commissioner

or rule of the Finance Commission of Texas and does not correct

the violation before the 31st day after the date the person

receives written notice of the violation from the Texas

Department of Banking; or

(2) engages in a pattern of violations, as determined by the

commissioner.

$1,000 for each day the violation occurs.

(d) In determining the amount of the penalty, the commissioner

shall consider the seriousness of the violation, the person's

history of violations, and the person's good faith in attempting

to comply with this chapter. The commissioner may collect the

penalty in the same manner that a money judgment is enforced in

district court.

(e) In addition to any penalty that may be imposed under

Subsection (b), the commissioner may bring a civil action against

a person to enjoin a violation described in Subsection (b) that

has not been corrected within 30 days after receipt by the person

of written notice of the violation from the commissioner. The

civil action may be brought in the district court of the county

in which the cemetery is operated.

(f) The commissioner may issue an order to cease and desist if a

violation described in Subsection (b) has not been corrected

within 30 days after receipt by the person of written notice of

the violation from the commissioner. Any order proposed under

this subsection shall be served on the person, shall state the

grounds for the proposed order with reasonable certainty, and

shall state the proposed effective date, which may not be less

than 15 days after receipt by the person. Unless the person

requests a hearing within 15 days after the receipt, the order is

effective as proposed.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 711.056. PATTERN OF WILFUL DISREGARD. (a) If after a

hearing conducted as provided by Chapter 2001, Government Code,

the trier of fact finds that a violation of this chapter or a

rule of the Finance Commission of Texas establishes a pattern of

wilful disregard for the requirements of this chapter or rules of

the finance commission, the trier of fact shall recommend to the

commissioner that the maximum administrative penalty permitted

under Section 711.055 be imposed on the person committing the

violation or that the commissioner cancel or not renew the

person's permit under Chapter 154, Finance Code, if the person

holds such a permit.

(b) For the purposes of this section, violations corrected as

provided by Section 711.055 may be included in determining

whether a pattern of wilful disregard for the requirements of

this chapter or rules of the finance commission exists.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

SUBCHAPTER E. LAWN CRYPTS

Sec. 711.061. REQUIREMENTS FOR LAWN CRYPTS. A lawn crypt may

not be installed unless:

(1) the lawn crypt is constructed of concrete and reinforced

steel or other comparably durable material;

(2) the lawn crypt is installed on not less than six inches of

rock, gravel, or other drainage material;

(3) the lawn crypt provides a method to drain water out of the

lawn crypt;

(4) the outside top surface of the lawn crypt at the time of

installation is at least 1-1/2 feet below the surface of the

ground as required by Section 714.001(a)(2) and is capable of

withstanding the weight of the soil and sod above the top surface

and the weight of machinery and equipment normally used in the

maintenance of the cemetery;

(5) the lawn crypt is installed in a garden or other section of

the cemetery that has been dedicated for lawn crypt interment

purposes in accordance with Section 711.034; and

(6) except as provided by Section 711.062, the lawn crypt is

installed in multiple units of 10 or more.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1389, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1,

1997.

Sec. 711.062. REQUEST TO INSTALL LAWN CRYPT IN FEWER THAN 10

UNITS. A lawn crypt may be installed in fewer than 10 units if

it is installed in a plot pursuant to the plot owner's written

request that is in substantially the following form:

"REQUEST FOR INSTALLATION OF A LAWN CRYPT IN FEWER THAN 10 UNITS

I, (plot owner's name and address), request (name of cemetery

organization) to install a lawn crypt consisting of (number of)

units in the following location (description of plots) in (name

and address of cemetery).

The lawn crypt must meet the requirements of Section 711.061,

Health and Safety Code:

(1) the lawn crypt must be constructed of concrete and

reinforced steel or other comparably durable material;

(2) the lawn crypt must be installed on not less than six inches

of rock, gravel, or other drainage material;

(3) the lawn crypt must provide a method to drain water out of

the lawn crypt;

(4) the outside top surface of the lawn crypt at the time of

installation must be at least 1-1/2 feet below the surface of the

ground as required by Section 714.001(a)(2), Health and Safety

Code, and be capable of withstanding the weight of the soil and

sod above the top surface and the weight of machinery and

equipment normally used in the maintenance of the cemetery; and

(5) the plot in which the lawn crypt is to be installed must be

located in a garden or other section of the cemetery that is

dedicated for lawn crypt interment purposes in accordance with

Section 711.034, Health and Safety Code.

Dated (month, day, year).

(signature of plot owner)."

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1389, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1,

1997.

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2009 Texas Code HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE TITLE 8. DEATH AND DISPOSITION OF THE BODY CHAPTER 711. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CEMETERIES

2009 Texas Code
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 8. DEATH AND DISPOSITION OF THE BODY
CHAPTER 711. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CEMETERIES