Hello - Thanks to all who sent emails voicing your concerns about Section 9055 that allows public cemetery districts to sell ("convey") a district's cemetery to another cemetery authority. The Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee made some amendments to Sec. 9055 when this bill came before that committee for its vote. The amended text follows this message. We were not successful in having Sec. 9055 deleted or it's predecessor Sec. 8963.5 (Health and Safety Code) repealed. Senator Torlakson's amended text, however, does provide some safeguards; though we would have preferred to see these public cemeteries remain in public hands. We will be watching this bill as it moves through the next processes and will contact you again if there is a need to voice opposition to any future amended language. Thank you all again for responding to the Committee regarding this matter. Sincerely, Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves AMENDED SECTION 9055: 9055. (a) A district may convey a cemetery owned by the district to any cemetery authority, pursuant to this section. (b) The board of trustees of a district that proposes to convey a cemetery owned by the district to a cemetery authority shall adopt a resolution of intention that contains: (1) A description of the cemetery that the district proposes to convey. (2) The name of the cemetery authority to which the district proposes to convey the cemetery. (3) An appendix that reports the cemetery's current assets and current liabilities and contains a reasonable projection of the district's ability to finance the ownership, improvement, expansion, and operation of the cemetery in the future. (4) The terms and conditions of the proposed conveyance. The terms and conditions shall require that the all of the following: (A) The cemetery authority maintain the cemetery as a endowment care cemetery pursuant to Sections 8738 and 8738.1. The terms and conditions shall provide for appropriate consideration. (4) A statement of the facts justifying the proposed conveyance. (B) Appropriate consideration, as determined by the board of trustees. (C) A restriction in the deed that conveys the cemetery to the cemetery authority that will permit the district or another public agency as the district's successor in interest to enter the cemetery and perform any repairs, restoration, or maintenance that the district or its successor deems necessary to protect the public interest, and will require the cemetery authority to reimburse the district or its successor for those costs. (D) Any other terms and conditions that the board of trustees determines to be necessary to protect the public interest in the cemetery. (5) A declaration that the proposed conveyance is in the public interest and in the best interests of the district. (c) The board of trustees shall send its resolution of intention to the board of supervisors of the principal county. (d) Within 60 days of receiving a resolution of intention adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), the board of supervisors shall hold a public hearing on the proposed conveyance. The board of supervisors shall give notice of its hearing by publishing a notice pursuant to Section 6061 6064 of the Government Code in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the district with the first day of publication at least 10 30 days before the hearing. The board of supervisors shall post the public notice in at least three public places within the jurisdiction of the district, at least 10 30 days before the hearing. One of the public places shall be at the cemetery that the district proposes to convey, and one of the public places shall be at the offices of the district. In addition, the board of supervisors shall mail the notice at least 10 30 days before the hearing to the district, the cemetery authority, and any other person who has filed written request for notice with the clerk of the board of supervisors. (e) At its hearing, the board of supervisors shall receive and consider any written or oral comments regarding the proposed conveyance of the cemetery. At the conclusion of the hearing, the board of supervisors shall make a finding regarding the value of written protests filed and not withdrawn and take one of the following actions: (1) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are at least 50 percent of the registered voters of the district or property owners owning at least 50 percent of the assessed value of the land within the district, the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution that terminates the proceedings to convey the cemetery. (2) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are less than 50 percent of the registered voters of the district or property owners owning less than 50 percent of the assessed value of the land within the district, the board of supervisors may by a four-fifths vote adopt a resolution that concurs in the conveyance of the cemetery to the cemetery authority. (f) The board of supervisors shall send copies of its resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (e) to the district and the cemetery authority. (g) If the board of supervisors adopts a resolution that concurs in the proposed conveyance of the cemetery, the board of trustees may order the conveyance of the cemetery to the cemetery authority, subject to the terms and conditions set by the board of trustees and concurred in by the board of supervisors.