By Sibley S.B. No. 1132
75R4767 MCK-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of lawn crypts.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 711.001(19), Health and Safety Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (19) "Lawn crypt" means a subsurface [concrete and
1-7 reinforced steel] receptacle installed in multiple units for burial
1-8 of human remains.
1-9 SECTION 2. Chapter 711, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-10 by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
1-11 SUBCHAPTER E. LAWN CRYPTS
1-12 Sec. 711.061. REQUIREMENTS FOR LAWN CRYPTS. A lawn crypt
1-13 may not be installed unless:
1-14 (1) the lawn crypt is constructed of concrete and
1-15 reinforced steel or other comparably durable material;
1-16 (2) the lawn crypt is installed on not less than six
1-17 inches of rock, gravel, or other drainage material;
1-18 (3) the lawn crypt contains a method to drain water
1-19 out of the lawn crypt;
1-20 (4) the outside top surface of the lawn crypt at the
1-21 time of installation is not less than 1-1/2 feet below the surface
1-22 of the ground as required by Section 714.001(a)(2) and is capable
1-23 of withstanding the weight of the soil and sod above the top
1-24 surface and the weight of machinery and equipment normally used in
2-1 the maintenance of the cemetery;
2-2 (5) the lawn crypt is installed in a garden or other
2-3 section of the cemetery that has been dedicated for lawn crypt
2-4 interment purposes in accordance with Section 711.034; and
2-5 (6) except as provided by Section 711.062, the lawn
2-6 crypt is installed in multiple units of 10 or more.
2-7 Sec. 711.062. REQUEST TO INSTALL LAWN CRYPT IN FEWER THAN 10
2-8 UNITS. A lawn crypt may be installed in fewer than 10 units if it
2-9 is installed in a plot pursuant to the plot owner's written request
2-10 that is in substantially the following form:
2-11 "REQUEST FOR INSTALLATION OF A LAWN CRYPT IN
2-12 FEWER THAN 10 UNITS
2-13 I, (plot owner's name and address), request (name of cemetery
2-14 organization) to install a lawn crypt consisting of (number of)
2-15 units in the following location (description of plots) in (name and
2-16 address of cemetery).
2-17 The lawn crypt must meet the requirements of Section 711.061,
2-18 Health and Safety Code:
2-19 (1) the lawn crypt must be constructed of concrete and
2-20 reinforced steel or other comparably durable material;
2-21 (2) the lawn crypt must be installed on not less than
2-22 six inches of rock, gravel, or other drainage material;
2-23 (3) the lawn crypt must contain a method to drain
2-24 water out of the lawn crypt;
2-25 (4) the outside top surface of the lawn crypt at the
2-26 time of installation must not be less than 1-1/2 feet below the
2-27 surface of the ground as required by Section 714.001(a)(2), Health
3-1 and Safety Code, and be capable of withstanding the weight of the
3-2 soil and sod above the top surface and the weight of machinery and
3-3 equipment normally used in the maintenance of the cemetery; and
3-4 (5) the plot in which the lawn crypt is to be
3-5 installed must be located in a garden or other section of the
3-6 cemetery that is dedicated for lawn crypt interment purposes in
3-7 accordance with Section 711.034, Health and Safety Code.
3-8 Dated (month, day, year).
3-9 (signature of plot owner)."
3-10 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
3-11 applies to the installation of lawn crypts on or after that date.
3-12 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.