On September 22, 2000, H.B. 531 becomes law, exempting townships from paying annual fees when registering all cemeteries.

House Bill 531, sponsored by State Representative Nancy Hollister and 41 other State Representatives amends Ohio Revised Code Chapters 4767, 1721, and Section 3705.17 that regulates cemeteries.

The bill, now enacted as law:

1. Exempts all political subdivisions from the requirement of paying a cemetery registration fee;

2. Removes annual renewal after initial registration and receiving a permanent ID Number; and

3. Requires cemeteries to renew or update the registration when a change occurs in statutory required information or if land is obtained to increase the size of the cemetery. (Sec. 4767.03 (C).)

Other portions of the law speak to endowment and trust funds, pre-need sales, etc. (You may request a copy of the complete HB531 as passed from the O.T.A. Office.)

As a result of the reduced funding from annual registrations, the law governing the fee for the issuance of Burial Permits is changed by increasing the Burial Permit fee to $3.00 with $2.50 of the fee for the use of the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing and the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission.

Cemetery Registration ID Numbers do double duty.
Within the Division of Real Estate, these ID #s are necessary for day-by-day record keeping and when handling complaints by consumers regarding any particular cemetery.

These ID #s -- when made available county-by-county to the Bureau of Vital Statistics [local Health Departments] -- become an accurate way of identifying each and every cemetery. Previously identified by name only, one finds there are multiple Mt. Calvary's, Pleasant Hills, St. Michael's, etc. Three active "Hopewell" Cemeteries exist in one county, alone. In a recent E-mail message to two local Registrars and this author, Mr. Herman Butler, Director of the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics, reported: "We are very interested in following through with implementation of a Cemetery ID Number on death certificates and burial transfer permits. I discussed this in a National Meeting I attended the latter part of June and also discussed it with the software vendor we are using…"

What is needed from each of us [all political subdivision owners of cemeteries] -- NOW -- as a township owning one or more cemeteries?

1. For those having previously applied for and received a Registration Certificate for each of your cemeteries -- sit back, smile, and relax.

2. All who have not previously registered the cemeteries you own, PLEASE DO SO -- NOW! Should you use n older form, simply mark out the section on fees and indicate "not applicable." [Forms are available from: Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing, 615 Superior Avenue, NW, Cleveland, OH 44113; phone: 216-787-3100.]

3. All Townships are encouraged to register and receive an ID number for all inactive cemeteries owned. DO MARK the Registration Form -- INACTIVE.

When completing a registration form, be sure to cite the actual location of the cemetery, [identify road or street from which it is accessed.] Address of owner should be that of our Township Office or Clerk. Take pride by displaying a copy of our Cemetery Registration. When communicating with your County Health Department, assist them by providing the permanent ID number along with the name of each cemetery.

This legislation addresses the present and the future. It leaves the addressing of the urgent needs of those hundreds of endangered family graveyards to each of us in our immediate geographic areas.