Subj: Abandoned and Neglected Cemetery Project Date: 4/2/99 9:26:47 PM Eastern Standard Time From: pwariner@bellsouth.net (Patricia Wariner) To: BettyMaeS@aol.com (BettyMaeS@aol.com) Dear Betty, My name is Patricia Wariner, I am the newsletter editor for the West Florida Genealogical Society. I have been working with Mr. Warren Jernigan, who is a member of the Abandoned and Neglected Cemetery Task Force. He has asked me to pass this letter on to people who can get the message out to others. I have seen your posting often on the Jackson County -L and thought you'd be interested in this information. Please feel free to post it or share it with anyone you feel would be interested in helping. Dear friends, As you know there are a few pieces of legislation that are of great importance to genealogist and others doing historical research. A report was released by the Task Force on Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries to get legislation passed during this session that would be of great importance to you. This legislation deals with such issues as ingress and egress in abandoned and neglected cemeteries. It is imperative that I get your help ! This legislation proposed in the Task Force on Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries would: Require record keeping at the county level of all abandoned and neglected cemeteries. We know of approximately 3,500 cemeteries in this state (Florida). Require additional information of decedents to be added to burial transit permits. The burial transit permit would record the exact garden, lot and space where the deceased is buried in a cemetery. If the grave is not marked, it is impossible to locate that grave again. Make landowners, trustees or corporations responsible for maintaining cemeteries in a dignified manner and other areas vital to preserve the respect of our deceased loved ones. A different, weaker proposal was introduced to the legislature as House Bill 1405. It is important that we support the "language" in the Task Force on Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries final report. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 Bills introduced annually in the legislature, but only 300 to 400 become law. I would like to point out that there are less than 30 days left in this legislative session. To make an impact on the importance of this issue, I urge you to please write or call your legislators or any other legislator that you feel comfortable about this issue. Express to him / her your sincere dealing of support and need for the passage of legislation using the language of the Task Force on Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries. Sincerely Yours, Warren Jernigan Legislative Liaison Task Force on Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries