Springfield, Illinois - State Senator Ed Maloney (D - Chicago) recently attended a Senate/House Consumer Protection hearing focused on cemetery reform.

The hearing was formed in light of the events that have taken place at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL where four cemetery workers have been charged in an elaborate scheme of unearthing human remains and reselling the plots. "It is important that we, as legislators, hear all the testimony from those in the funeral industry, the Comptroller's office and those who have been directly affected by this situation and come up with a
comprehensive piece of legislation that will prevent this situation from happening in the future," said Senator Maloney. 

Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) and the Office of the Comptroller drafted legislation earlier this month that was not called in the final days of session due to its opposition from religious groups that had not
had time to properly review the bill.

"Senate Bill 662 was a good starting point for devising new rules and regulations for cemeteries in Illinois," said Senator Maloney.  "Today we heard many suggestions on how we can make this legislation better and by the fall Veto session, I believe we will have done so."

The Committee will take all suggestions and recommendations from the industry experts, the Cook County Sheriff's Department, the Comptroller's Office, the Governor's Cemetery Oversight Task Force and
the victims of Burr Oak Cemetery and will devise a new piece of legislation to introduce in the fall.