EXEMPT CERTAIN COLUMBARIA FROM

CEMETERY REGULATION ACT

House Bill 4588 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Michael Webber

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 1-27-20

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4588 would amend the Cemetery Regulation Act to add a columbarium owned and operated by a public land-grant university to the list of entities exempted from regulation under the act. Michigan State University is the only public land-grant university in the state, and as recently as 2015 was contemplating the construction of a columbarium.^[1]

Columbarium is defined under the act as a building or other aboveground structure that is affixed to land and is a permanent repository for cremated human remains.

The Cemetery Regulation Act governs cemeteries, including burial grounds, mausoleums, crematories, and columbaria. Currently, cemeteries owned by municipal corporations, churches, or religious institutions are specifically excluded from regulation under the act.

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

MCL 456.530

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4588 would not have an appreciable fiscal impact on any unit of state or local government.

                                                                                       Legislative Analysts:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                                           Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Marcus Coffin

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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