Bill Text: HI SB3130 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 3130 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Cemeteries.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-20 - The committee on CPH deferred the measure. [SB3130 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB3130-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3130
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to cemetEries.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is one of the few states that does not exempt religious institutions from charging a fee to help manage the costs of having a columbarium on their property. The legislature further finds that amending current law regarding cemetery and funeral trusts to allow religious institutions to feasibly construct and properly manage a columbarium within their property or place of worship and providing niches to its members for an affordable fee addresses our community's desire and commitment to care for the afterlife needs of deceased members and their family members. The primary goal is to make it affordable for local families and their respective religious institutions to provide a continuum of spiritual care for their loved ones and parishioners, even in their afterlife.

The purpose of this Act is to allow any cemetery authority to be exempted from licensing, bonding, and fee requirements when selling or offering use of its property or portion thereof for the inurnment of cremated remains of its members, adherents, and their families.

SECTION 2. Chapter 441, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§441- Religious institutions. The director shall exempt any cemetery authority from licensing, bonding, and fee requirements of this chapter upon proof satisfactory to the director that it is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation for religious purposes administering temporalities of any church, religious society, or denomination that intends to sell or offer use of its property or portion thereof for the inurnment of cremated remains of its members, adherents, and their families and not for sale to the general public; provided that niches shall not be sold or transferred to the general public."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Cemetery; Religious Institutions; Fees; Niches

Description:

Allows any cemetery authority to be exempted from licensing, bonding, and fee requirements when selling or offering use of its property or portion thereof for the inurnment of cremated remains of its members, adherents, and their families.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.