S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2034
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. SMULLEN, TAGUE, E. BROWN, K. BROWN, PALMESANO,
   MANKTELOW, MAHER, McDONOUGH,  LEMONDES,  BRABENEC,  GALLAHAN,  HAWLEY,
   BENDETT,  DeSTEFANO  --  read  once  and  referred to the Committee on
   Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
 
 AN ACT to amend the  executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  an
   adopt-a-rural cemetery program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section  144-b
 to read as follows:
   §  144-B.  ADOPT-A-RURAL  CEMETERY  PROGRAM. 1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE
 SHALL DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT  AN  ADOPT-A-RURAL  CEMETERY  PROGRAM  THE
 PURPOSES  OF  WHICH  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT BE LIMITED TO, IMPROVING,
 REPAIRING, AND MAINTAINING CEMETERIES IN  RURAL  COMMUNITIES  WHICH  ARE
 REGISTERED  WITH  AND  OVERSEEN  BY  THE  DIVISION OF CEMETERIES AND ARE
 LOCATED IN ANY MUNICIPALITY EXCEPT IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF  ONE
 MILLION  OR  MORE INHABITANTS.  A MUNICIPALITY MAY OPT TO PARTICIPATE IN
 THE PROGRAM.  THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) COORDINATING SERVICES BY VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS TO  IMPROVE,  REPAIR
 AND MAINTAIN CEMETERIES; AND
   (B)  PROVIDING  AND  INSTALLING  APPROPRIATE  SIGNS  IDENTIFYING THOSE
 VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL CEMETERIES.
   2. (A) SIGNS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION MUST:
   (I)  BE PLACED AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CEMETERY ALONGSIDE OR BELOW
 ANY EXISTING CEMETERY SIGNAGE;
   (II) MATCH AND CONFORM TO THE STYLE, COLOR, TYPE, FONT,  AND  LIKENESS
 OF  ANY  EXISTING  CEMETERY SIGNAGE, INCLUDING ANY HISTORIC PRESERVATION
 REQUIREMENTS;
   (III) BE DEVOID OF ANY CORPORATE LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, AND IMAGES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03561-01-5
 A. 2034                             2
              

 
   (IV) BE LIMITED IN SIZE TO NO MORE THAN HALF  THE  DIMENSIONS  OF  THE
 LARGEST  EXISTING  CEMETERY SIGNAGE AT THE LOCATION IN WHICH IT SHALL BE
 PLACED; AND
   (V) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE MAY ADD.
   (B)  IF THERE IS NO EXISTING SIGNAGE AT A CEMETERY, THE SIGN FOR IDEN-
 TIFYING THOSE VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL  CEMETERIES
 SHALL  BE CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW THE CEMETERY CORPORATION OR
 MUNICIPALITY WHICH OWNS THE CEMETERY SHALL SEE FIT BUT SHALL  BE  DEVOID
 OF ANY CORPORATE LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, AND IMAGES.
   3.  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE
 RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT  AND  CARRY  OUT   THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A)  THE  NUMBER  OF YEARS THAT VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS MAY ADOPT A RURAL
 CEMETERY; AND
   (B) THE REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO  BE  THE
 ADOPTER OF A CEMETERY.
   4.  THE  PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN
 THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT  OF  MAINTENANCE  AND  THE
 DESIGNING,  CONSTRUCTION,  AND  INSTALLATION  OF THE SIGNAGE IDENTIFYING
 THOSE VOLUNTEERS OR GROUPS ADOPTING PARTICULAR RURAL CEMETERIES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.