497.284 Abandoned cemeteries; immunity; actions. - Florida Statutes

497.284 Abandoned cemeteries; immunity; actions.

   (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a county or municipality which has within its jurisdiction an abandoned cemetery or a cemetery that has not been reasonably maintained for a period in excess of 6 months may, upon notice to the department, take such action as is necessary and appropriate to provide for maintenance and security of the cemetery. The solicitation of private funds and the expenditure of public funds for the purposes enumerated in this subsection are hereby authorized, provided that no action taken by a county or municipality under this subsection shall establish an ongoing obligation or duty to provide continuous security or maintenance for any cemetery.

   (2) No county or municipality nor any person under the supervision or direction of the county or municipality, providing good faith assistance in securing or maintaining a cemetery under subsection (1), may be subject to civil liabilities or penalties of any type for damages to property at the cemetery.

   (3) A county or municipality that has maintained or secured a cemetery pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) may maintain an action at law against the owner of the cemetery to recover an amount equal to the value of such maintenance or security.

History. s. 7, ch. 78-407; ss. 33, 40, ch. 80-238; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 88-300; s. 1, ch. 89-8; ss. 84, 122, ch. 93-399; s. 65, ch. 2004-301.

Note. Former s. 559.525; s. 497.071; s. 497.345.