Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 214 - Cemeteries
Section 214.389 - Suspension of distribution, when, procedure.

Effective - 28 Aug 2010
214.389. Suspension of distribution, when, procedure. — 1. The division may direct a trustee, financial institution, or escrow agent to suspend distribution from an endowed care trust fund or escrow account if the cemetery operator does not have a current and active cemetery operator license, has failed to file an annual report, or if, after an audit or examination, the division determines there is a deficiency in an endowed care trust fund or escrow account maintained under section 214.330 and the cemetery operator has failed to file a corrective action plan detailing how the deficiency shall be remedied. For purposes of this section, a deficiency shall only be deemed to exist if, after an audit or examination, the division determines a cemetery operator has failed to deposit the total aggregate of funds required to be deposited in trust or an escrow account pursuant to section 214.320 or subsection 1 of section 214.335, or has received disbursements from the trust or escrow account in excess of what is permitted under section 214.330. No deficiency shall be deemed to be created by fluctuations in the value of investments held in trust or escrow.
2. The division shall provide written notification to the cemetery operator and the trustee, financial institution, or escrow agent within fourteen days of discovering a potential violation as described in this section. Upon receipt of written notification from the division, the cemetery operator shall have sixty days to cure any alleged violations or deficiencies cited in the notification without a suspension of distribution. If, after the sixty-day time period, the division feels the cemetery has not cured the alleged violations or deficiencies cited in the notification, the division may send a notice of suspension to the cemetery operator that the division is ordering a suspension of distribution as described in this section. In the event of a suspension of distribution, the amount of any distribution suspended shall become principal, with credit against the deficiency, unless the cemetery operator files an appeal with a court of competent jurisdiction or with the administrative hearing commission, as provided herein. In the event of an appeal, a cemetery operator may request the court or administrative hearing commission stay the suspension of distribution after a showing of necessity and good cause or authorize payment from the endowed care trust fund or escrow account for necessary expenses from any amount subject to distribution.
3. Upon receipt of an order from the division suspending distribution pursuant to this section, a trustee, financial institution, or escrow agent shall immediately suspend distribution as required by the order. A trustee, financial institution, or escrow agent shall be exempt from liability for failure to distribute funds as ordered by the division.
4. A cemetery operator may appeal an order suspending distribution pursuant to this section to the administrative hearing commission. The administrative hearing commission shall receive notice of such appeal within thirty days from the date the notice of suspension was mailed by certified mail. Failure of a person whose license was suspended to notify the administrative hearing commission of his or her intent to appeal waives all rights to appeal the suspension. Upon notice of such person's intent to appeal, a hearing shall be held before the administrative hearing commission pursuant to chapter 621.
5. A cemetery operator may apply for reinstatement of distributions upon demonstration that the deficiencies or other problems have been cured or that the operator has otherwise come into compliance.
6. The division may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2010, shall be invalid and void.
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(L. 2010 H.B. 1692, et al. merged with H.B. 2226, et al. merged with S.B. 754)

Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XII - Public Health and Welfare

Chapter 214 - Cemeteries

Section 214.010 - Local government may acquire and dispose of cemeteries within boundaries — authority to regulate — penalties.

Section 214.020 - City may establish perpetual care cemetery fund — receive gifts — limitation on use of income from fund.

Section 214.030 - Cemetery lots, conveyed by deed.

Section 214.035 - Conveyance of cemetery property to political subdivision, when — notice of transfer.

Section 214.040 - Plots and records of cemeteries to be maintained, where — requirements.

Section 214.041 - Construction of roads prohibited in cemetery — exceptions.

Section 214.050 - Power to vacate streets vested in county commissions.

Section 214.060 - Petition to be presented to county commission — remonstrance may be filed.

Section 214.070 - Terms defined.

Section 214.080 - Proceedings to enlarge.

Section 214.090 - Family burying grounds, how secured.

Section 214.120 - Costs, who liable for.

Section 214.130 - County commission and incorporated cemetery company to receive grants and bequests in trust.

Section 214.131 - Tombstones, fences, destroying or mutilating in abandoned family or private cemetery, penalty — abandoned or private burying ground, defined.

Section 214.132 - Visiting abandoned family or private burying ground surrounded by private property, right of access, when, enforcement by sheriff — court's power to disinter.

Section 214.140 - Property placed in trust for benefit of cemeteries.

Section 214.150 - County commissions shall become trustees and custodians.

Section 214.160 - Investment or lending of trust funds — investment manager, duties — definitions.

Section 214.170 - May designate responsible organization or individual to administer the income.

Section 214.180 - Shall keep record of receipts and disbursements.

Section 214.190 - Cemetery not subject to execution, dower or partition — exception.

Section 214.200 - Title, how obtained to lands used for burial purposes.

Section 214.205 - Violation of nuisance ordinance — abandonment — action authorized — costs — eminent domain.

Section 214.208 - Disinterment authorized, when — consent required, when — cemetery owner not liable, when.

Section 214.209 - Abandonment of burial site, rights revert to cemetery.

Section 214.210 - Certain cities may accept or acquire cemetery lands.

Section 214.220 - Lands or shares subject to all vested rights.

Section 214.230 - City may acquire money or funds, how.

Section 214.240 - City may provide and enforce rules and regulations.

Section 214.250 - Proceedings to establish cemetery in first class counties — petition by taxpayers.

Section 214.260 - Penalty for violation.

Section 214.270 - Definitions.

Section 214.275 - License, cemeteries — division's powers and duties — limitations.

Section 214.276 - Refusal to issue license, grounds — complaint, procedure.

Section 214.277 - Injunctions, restraining orders, other court remedies available — venue.

Section 214.280 - Election to operate as endowed care cemetery filing with division of registration, form — fee — deposit of fee — division's powers and duties — rules authorized.

Section 214.282 - Voidability of contracts, exceptions.

Section 214.283 - Notification of burial lands — registry of cemeteries to be kept by division — fee may be charged for copies — surveyor locating unregistered cemetery to file with division, form.

Section 214.300 - Nonendowed cemetery may qualify as endowed, when — minimum care and maintenance fund to be established.

Section 214.310 - Endowed care and maintenance fund, minimum amount — bond — posting of sign, when, information required.

Section 214.320 - Deposits in fund required, amount — annual report, form furnished by division — audits may be conducted, when — exemption from chapter 436 requirements, when.

Section 214.325 - Required deposits — deficiency — effect — penalty.

Section 214.330 - Endowed care fund held in trust or segregated account — requirements — duties of trustee or independent investment advisor — operator's duties — endowed care fund agreement.

Section 214.335 - Contributions to endowed care fund for memorial or monument — deficiency, effect of.

Section 214.340 - Report required — content — oath — filing required.

Section 214.345 - Sale of cemetery plot — written statement to be given to purchaser — copy of annual report to be available to public.

Section 214.360 - Private use of trust funds prohibited.

Section 214.363 - Bankruptcy, assignment for benefit of creditors, endowed care fund exempt.

Section 214.365 - Cemetery failing to provide maintenance — abandonment or ceasing to operate, division's duties.

Section 214.367 - Sale of assets, notice required — prospective purchaser of endowed care cemetery, right to recent audit — right to continue operation, notification by division.

Section 214.370 - Nonendowed cemetery to post signs and give notice of its character.

Section 214.380 - Nonendowed section of endowed care cemetery — signs and notice.

Section 214.385 - Moving of grave marker, replacement — delivery of item of burial merchandise.

Section 214.387 - Burial merchandise or services, deferral of delivery, when — escrow arrangement — distribution of moneys — cancellation.

Section 214.389 - Suspension of distribution, when, procedure.

Section 214.390 - Existing cemeteries to operate under law — local law applicable.

Section 214.392 - Division of professional registration, duties and powers in regulation of cemeteries — rulemaking authority.

Section 214.400 - Citation of law.

Section 214.410 - Violation of law, penalty.

Section 214.450 - Indian cemeteries, how established — trust fund authorized.

Section 214.455 - Destruction or defacing any cemetery property, penalty.

Section 214.500 - Cemeteries acquired by a city at tax sales or as nuisances may be sold.

Section 214.504 - No liability for new cemetery operators, when — rights of holders of contracts for burial.

Section 214.508 - Previous cemetery owner liable, when.

Section 214.512 - New cemetery owner not liable for deficiencies, exception.

Section 214.516 - Registration as an endowed care cemetery, when — compliance with endowed care cemetery law required.

Section 214.550 - Scatter gardens, operation by churches maintaining religious cemeteries — maintenance of garden and records, duty of operator.