HB368 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randall Shedd
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Cullman Co., cemetery board established, terms defined, members and duties, provided for, funding provided
Summary: HB368 creates a five-member Cullman County Cemetery Board to acquire neglected for-profit cemeteries, oversee their cleanup and maintenance, and fund these activities from designated sales tax revenue.
What This Bill Does
It establishes the Cullman County Cemetery Board and defines how members are appointed and how often the board must meet. It gives the board power to acquire neglected for-profit cemeteries, oversee their cleanup, coordinate inmate labor with the sheriff, and purchase needed equipment, with the possibility to transfer ownership to a non-profit board. It restricts county commission authority over the board and the cemeteries, and sets up a funding mechanism from sales tax revenue for actions to acquire cemeteries. It also provides liability protections for board members and outlines effective date and repeal of conflicting laws.

Who It Affects
For-profit cemetery owners in Cullman County, who could be targeted for acquisition by the board or have their cemetery overseen and maintained by the board.
Cullman County residents and taxpayers, who may see improved cemetery maintenance funded by designated sales tax revenues and who lose direct county commission control over cemeteries under this act.

Key Provisions
Forms the Cullman County Cemetery Board with five members; one member is appointed by each member of the local legislative delegation, and the delegation appoints an additional chair who serves as board chair by majority vote.
Board duties include negotiating acquisition of neglected for-profit cemeteries, supervising cleanup and maintenance, coordinating with the sheriff to use inmate labor, purchasing equipment, and potentially transferring ownership to a non-profit board.
Maintenance of private cemeteries by the board is allowed only if a hearing finds the cemetery a public nuisance.
Funding: up to $50,000 from the county general fund from sales tax revenues above the 2015 baseline, available when the board takes action to acquire a neglected cemetery; funds originate from the fiscal year 2016 and later revenues.
County commission has no authority over the board or the cemeteries defined by this act.
Board members are not personally liable except for willful or wanton misconduct, fraud, or gross negligence; the act repeals conflicting laws; the act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Cullman County