Rep. Davis Fights for Cemetery Accountability
In 2009 four employees at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL were allegedly accused of the desecration of hundreds of graves, the dumping of bodies into unmarked mass graves and reselling burial plots.
The offense moved the State Legislature to pass a law to protect consumers from horrible violations such as these and to enact reforms in cemeteries regulation. A bill has emerged from the State Senate that could possibly undo safeguards the initial law provided.
State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) held a press conference in the States Capitol Blue Room in Springfield, IL last week to address the adverse implications Senate Bill 1853 will have on consumers.
We passed into law measures to protect consumers from unethical practices of unscrupulous cemetery owners and cemetery employees, and now those crucial efforts are in danger of being rolled back, David said in a press release. What took place at Burr Oak was a tragedy and I want to make sure that we are holding cemeteries accountable as we entrust them with the remains of our loved ones.
SB 1853 removes consumer safeguards that were initially established in the Cemetery Oversight Act, which passed the Legislature and took effect March 1, 2010.
According to the release, several consumer protections are in jeopardy of being eliminated if SB 1853 becomes law, such as the elimination of the Cemetery Oversight Database that tracks burial activity.
Rep. Davis told the Citizen that if the cemetery industry continues to be unregulated, the state will suffer. This industry, if continued to be unregulated will give Illinois a black eye because [it] takes advantage of people in their most vulnerable moment, she said.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart who was also present at last Wednesdays press conference said it was ``unconscionable'' to roll back reforms instituted in reaction to the digging up of bodies by cemetery workers and reselling burial plots.
SB 1853 is sponsored by Sen. Sen. Emil Jones III. The Associated Press reported that the measure would have the state license only privately held cemeteries while exempting religious, municipal, fraternal, national and family cemeteries from stricter regulations.
The bill passed the Senate and is under consideration in the House.
Jones says the 2009 reforms are ``overbearing'' for smaller cemeteries, adding Burr Oak was an ``isolated situation.''
The four former workers at Burr Oak face a variety of charges, including dismemberment of bodies and desecration of graves.
Consumers who have complaints about a cemetery are encouraged to call the Cemetery Consumer Helpline at 1-888-RLOVED1 (1-888-756-8331).
Thelma Sardin, AP, press release
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