§78. Exemptions; exempt certificates of authority; renewal; fees

            A. The provisions of R.S. 8:70, 71, 72, 73, and 76 shall not apply to family burial grounds, fraternal cemeteries, municipal cemeteries, community cemeteries, state cemeteries, federal cemeteries, or religious cemeteries that do not sell cemetery spaces, sell the right of use or interment in any cemetery space, or charge a maintenance fee per cemetery space for an amount in excess of three hundred dollars.

            B. The provisions of R.S. 8:70, 71, 72, 73, and 76 shall not apply to community cemeteries owned and operated by nonprofit corporations in existence prior to January 1, 2007, whose officers and directors serve on a voluntary basis without compensation for their services.

            C. The provisions of R.S. 8:70, 71, 72, 73, and 76 shall not apply to columbarium facilities owned and operated by churches for the interment of human remains.

            D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, every cemetery authority or person, referred to in this Subsection as the "applicant", seeking to be identified as a cemetery or columbarium facility that is exempt pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall provide the board such proof as the board deems necessary to determine whether an applicant meets the qualifications for exemption. If the board determines that an applicant is qualified for exemption, the applicant shall apply for an exempt certificate of authority on a form prescribed by the board, accompanied by an application fee of two hundred fifty dollars to cover the board's reasonable and ordinary expenses associated with determining whether the applicant is in compliance with applicable provisions of this Title.

            E.(1) No later than April first and in three-year intervals thereafter, any cemetery authority or person holding an exempt certificate of authority shall apply for renewal of the certificate by submitting to the board such information as the board deems necessary to determine if the cemetery authority or person continues to meet the qualifications for exemption, in addition to a renewal fee of fifty dollars to maintain the exemption previously granted.

            (2) Failure to submit the required information or pay the prescribed renewal fee by April first of the respective renewal interval shall effect the suspension of the applicable exempt certificate of authority. The board shall assess a late charge of twenty-five dollars to any cemetery authority or person making the submission of information and payment of the prescribed fee after April first of the respective renewal interval.

            (3) The board may reinstate a suspended exempt certificate of authority after April first of the respective renewal interval, if the cemetery authority or person submits to the board the required information, payment of the prescribed renewal fee, and the assessed late charge of twenty-five dollars.

            F. At any time, if the board determines a cemetery authority or person no longer meets the qualifications to maintain an exempt certificate of authority, the cemetery authority or person shall begin the process of applying for a nonexempt certificate of authority, as required by this Chapter, within thirty days of receipt of written notice of the board's determination of nonexemption.

            Acts 1974, No. 417, §1; Acts 1997, No. 921, §1; Acts 2006, No. 669, §1; Acts 2015, No. 222, §1, special effective date; Acts 2022, No. 574, §1.

            NOTE: See Acts 2015, No. 222, §2, regarding effective dates.