157.63 Reporting and auditing exemptions; certification of compliance of cemetery organized and operated by, or affiliated with, a religious association.
(1) In lieu of filing an annual report under s. 157.62 (2), a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association, or that religious association, may file an annual certification with the cemetery board as provided in this section.
(2) A certification under this section shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the cemetery board and include all of the following:
(a) The name and address of each cemetery to which the certification applies.
(b) A statement of a person who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the religious association under this section that, during the reporting period under s. 157.62, each cemetery and the cemetery authority of each cemetery specified under par. (a) have either fully complied or have substantially complied with ss. 157.11 (9g) (c) and 157.12 (3).
(3) If the statement under sub. (2) (b) includes a statement of substantial compliance, the statement under sub. (2) (b) must also specify those instances when the cemetery or cemetery authority did not fully comply with s. 157.11 (9g) or 157.12 (3).
(4) A certification under this section is effective for the 12-month period immediately following the reporting period under s. 157.62 (2) for which the cemetery authority is certified under this section to have fully or substantially complied with ss. 157.11 (9g) and 157.12 (3).
(5) During the effective period specified under sub. (4), the cemetery board may not audit the care funds or any records or accounts relating to the care funds of a cemetery to which a certification under this section applies.
(6) The religious society that is affiliated with a cemetery to which a certification under this section applies is liable for the damages of any person that result from the failure of the cemetery or cemetery authority to fully comply with s. 157.11 (9g) or 157.12 (3) during the reporting period under s. 157.62 (2) for which such compliance has been certified under this section.
History: 1989 a. 307; 1991 a. 269; 2015 a. 237; 2017 a. 329.