Existing law authorizes a cemetery authority to order the disinterment and removal of all human remains interred in all or any part of a cemetery if: (1) a governmental authority other than the cemetery authority makes certain determinations relating to the maintenance of the cemetery in accordance with the health, safety and comfort of the public; or (2) the cemetery authority determines that a financial provision must be made for the future care of certain gravesites. (NRS 451.070) Section 1 of this bill instead provides that, before a cemetery authority may disinter or remove human remains interred in all or any part of a cemetery: (1) the cemetery authority must petition the district court of the county in which a cemetery is located for an order authorizing the disinterment and removal; and (2) the court must issue an order authorizing the disinterment and removal. Sections 2-4 of this bill make conforming changes relating to the issuance by the court, rather than the cemetery authority, of an order for the disinterment and removal of human remains interred in a cemetery. Existing law: (1) requires the owner of a cemetery to keep the cemetery in an orderly condition; and (2) authorizes a board of county commissioners to make rules relating to this requirement. (NRS 452.030) Section 5 of this bill removes the authority of a board of county commissioners to make such rules. Instead, section 5 requires the owner of a cemetery to take certain specific actions to ensure that a cemetery is kept in an orderly condition. Existing law provides for the establishment, operation and maintenance of veterans' cemeteries and sets forth the eligibility requirements for the interment of veterans in such cemeteries. (NRS 417.210) Section 6 of this bill expands the eligibility requirements to include certain veterans who were members of a reserve component of the National Guard or who received a commemorative plaque or urn furnished by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Section 6 also requires the Director of the Department of Veterans Services to charge a fee for: (1) the interment of a veteran made eligible under the expanded criteria set forth in section 6; and (2) a headstone or marker provided by the Department for certain veterans made eligible for interment under the expanded criteria set forth in section 6.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 451.070, 451.075, 451.080, 451.310, 452.030
Reprint 1: 451.070, 451.075, 451.080, 451.310, 452.030
Reprint 2: 451.070, 451.075, 451.080, 451.310, 452.030, 417.210
As Enrolled: 451.070, 451.075, 451.080, 451.310, 452.030, 417.210
BDR: 451.070, 451.075, 451.080, 451.310, 452.030