CT General Assembly Approves An Act Concerning Desecration of an Abandoned Cemetery Bill

From The Office of State Rep Mike Bocchino: State Representative Mike Bocchino’s (R-150) bill, H.B. 7250, An Act Concerning Desecration of an Abandoned Cemetery, was approved by the General Assembly’s House of Representatives on May 3, 2017. “Our State has had issues with abandoned cemeteries where developers have encroached upon these sites,” said Rep. Bocchino. “We owe the deceased the respect and consecration that their resting places deserve. This is something that we’re hopeful will help the rest of the State of Connecticut.”

Under the current law, any intentional destruction, mutilation, defecation or removal of all or part of a burial site is listed as a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, with a minimum fine of $500. The current law does not cover abandoned grave sites, which are classified as those where no burial has occurred in the last 40 years and where no maintenance has occurred in the last 10 years other than by the town or city in which it is located.

Rep. Bocchino’s bill allots abandoned cemetery with the same level of protection given to regularly maintained grave sites.

“I think we have an obligation to protect historical sites such as abandoned cemeteries, and I was pleased to see that this bill received a favorable vote by the House,” added Rep. Bocchino. H.B. 7250, An Act Concerning Desecration of an Abandoned Cemetery, was approved by the House of Representatives in a unanimous vote, 149-0, with two members absent.

Image Courtesy of The Office Mike Bocchino