Michigan Compiled Laws
Act 251 of 1968 - Cemetery Regulation Act (456.521 - 456.543)
Section 456.522 - Definitions.

Sec. 2.
As used in this act:
(a) "Cemetery" means 1 or a combination of more than 1 of the following:
(i) A burial ground for earth interments.
(ii) A mausoleum for crypt entombments.
(iii) A crematory for the cremation for human remains.
(iv) A columbarium for the inurnment of cremated remains.
(b) "Interment" means the disposition of human remains by earth interment, entombment, or inurnment.
(c) "Burial right" means a right of earth interment.
(d) "Entombment right" means the right of crypt entombment in a mausoleum or in an aboveground vault.
(e) "Columbarium right" means the right of inurnment in a columbarium for cremated remains.
(f) "Mausoleum" means a building or other aboveground structure that is affixed to land and is a permanent repository for human remains.
(g) "Crypt" means a chamber in a mausoleum of sufficient size to entomb the uncremated remains of a deceased person.
(h) "Columbarium" means a building or other aboveground structure that is affixed to land and is a permanent repository for cremated human remains.
(i) "Crematory" means a building or structure, within which the remains of deceased persons are or are intended to be cremated.
(j) "Cremation" means the incineration of the body of the deceased person.
(k) "Cemetery commissioner" or "commissioner" means the director of the department of labor and economic growth or a designee of the director.
(l) "Endowment and perpetual care" means all general work necessary to keep the cemetery property in a presentable condition at all times, including, but not limited to, the cutting of grass at reasonable intervals; the raking, cleaning, filling, seeding, and sodding of graves; the replacement, pruning, or removal of shrubs and trees in order to assure access to interment rights; and the repair and maintenance of enclosures, buildings, drives, walks, and the various memorial gardens.
(m) "Merchandise trust" means trusts required by section 16, composed of deposits made in connection with merchandise and service sales made prior to January 1, 2005.
(n) "Municipal corporation" means a county, city, village, or township.
(o) "Regulated financial institution" means a state or nationally chartered bank, savings and loan association or savings bank, credit union, trust company, or other state or federally chartered lending institution or a regulated affiliate or regulated subsidiary of any of these entities.
(p) "Person" means an individual, group of individuals, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, government agency, cemetery, or a combination of these legal entities.
(q) "Good moral character" means that term as defined and determined under 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47.
(r) "Cemetery owner" means the person who has title to the cemetery.
(s) "Operator" means any of the following:
(i) A person, an officer of a person, a partner of a person, or a member or manager of a limited liability company, who holds more than 50% voting rights in a cemetery owner.
(ii) A person who is a member of the board of directors of a cemetery owner, a partner in a cemetery owner, or a member or manager of a limited liability company that is a cemetery owner.
(iii) An administrative official of the cemetery owner or the person described in subparagraph (i), comparable to a chief administrative officer, chief executive officer, or chief financial officer.
(t) "Affiliated person" means a person directly or indirectly controlling the cemetery and includes all of the following:
(i) A person who holds at least a 50% interest in a cemetery.
(ii) A person who is a member of the board of directors or a cemetery owner, a partner in a cemetery owner, or a member or manager of a limited liability company that is a cemetery owner.
(iii) A person who is an officer of the person who holds at least a 10% interest in a cemetery corporation or other entity having control of the cemetery.
History: 1968, Act 251, Eff. Sept. 15, 1968 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 290, Imd. Eff. Oct. 30, 1972 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 290, Eff. July 10, 1978 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 132, Imd. Eff. Apr. 20, 1982 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 22, Eff. Jan. 1, 2005 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 478, Imd. Eff. Jan. 12, 2009 Compiler's Notes: For transfer of powers and duties of certain occupational functions, boards, and commissions from the Department of Licensing and Regulation to the Department of Commerce, see E.R.O. No. 1991-9, compiled at MCL 338.3501 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

Structure Michigan Compiled Laws

Michigan Compiled Laws

Chapter 456 - Cemetery Associations

Act 251 of 1968 - Cemetery Regulation Act (456.521 - 456.543)

Section 456.521 - Cemetery Regulation Act; Short Title.

Section 456.522 - Definitions.

Section 456.522a - Commissioner, Spouse, or Child; Financial Interest in Cemetery, Cemetery Operations, Supplier, or Funeral Establishment Prohibited.

Section 456.523-456.527 - Repealed. 1982, Act 132, Imd. Eff. Apr. 20, 1982.

Section 456.528 - Commissioner; Rules.

Section 456.529 - Commissioner; Hearings; Investigations; Oaths; Testimony; Witnesses; Production of Books and Records; Subpoena; Abandoned Cemeteries; Failure to Obey Subpoena; Perjury; Violation of Act, Rule, or Order; Powers of Commissioner; Injun...

Section 456.529a - Performance of Duties of Commissioner; Assistance From All Departments, State Agencies, Public Bodies Corporate, Committees, Commissioners, Officers of State, and Any Political Subdivision.

Section 456.529b - Consultants; Contracts.

Section 456.530 - Commissioner; Auditing Trust Funds; Registration of Cemeteries; Exemptions.

Section 456.531 - Commissioner; Registration Fee; Renewal Blank and Notice.

Section 456.532 - Permit for Registration Required; Acquisition of Controlling Interest in Cemetery Company; Application for Certificate of Approval; Contents; Issuance; Fee; Noncompliance; Escrow of Endowment and Perpetual Care Trust Fund; Prohibite...

Section 456.532a - Examining Affairs of Cemetery or Person; Inspection or Audit of Books, Papers, Records, and Documents; Audit Charges.

Section 456.533 - Establishment of Cemetery; Application for Permit; Investigation Fee; Conduct of Investigation; Notice to Commissioner of Certain Changes; Order to Void Certain Appointments.

Section 456.533a - Circumstances Causing Person to Be Ineligible as Cemetery Owner or Holder of Controlling Interest; Factors for Determining Eligibility.

Section 456.534 - Granting or Refusing to Grant Permit; Denial of Application; Procedures.

Section 456.535 - Registration of Cemetery; Date; Application; Form; Fee; Expiration; Procedure for Denying Registration; Late Penalty Filing Fee.

Section 456.535a - Witness Fee; Prohibition.

Section 456.536 - Irrevocable Endowment and Perpetual Care Trust Fund; Establishment and Maintenance; Commingling Prohibited; Annual Report; Application for Modification or Waiver; Expenses; Bundling of Funds With Common Ownership; Pooling of Trust o...

Section 456.536a - Preconstruction Sales of Crypts or Niches.

Section 456.537 - Right to Possess Space Within Cemetery; Presumption of Abandonment; Certification; Notice; Record; Remedies; Transfer; Sale; Contract; Publication on Internet Website; Exception; Intent of Section; Definitions.

Section 456.538 - Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of Permit or Registration, and Other Disciplinary Action; Grounds; Effect; Fulfillment of Contractual Obligations and Agreements; Administrative Fine.

Section 456.539 - Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of Permit or Registration; Notice of Intent; Hearing; Decision.

Section 456.540 - Appeal.

Section 456.541 - Violations; Penalties.

Section 456.542 - Repeal.

Section 456.543 - Effective Date of Act.