§671. Short title
This Chapter shall be known as the "Louisiana Unmarked Human Burial Sites Preservation Act".
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§672. Legislative declaration of intent
The legislature finds that existing state laws do not provide for the adequate protection of unmarked burial sites and of human skeletal remains and burial artifacts in such sites. As a result, there is a real and growing threat to the safety and sanctity of unmarked burial sites, both from economic development of the land and from persons engaged for personal or financial gain in the mining of prehistoric and historic Indian, pioneer, and Civil War and other soldiers' burial sites. Therefore, there is an immediate need for legislation to protect the burial sites of these earlier residents of Louisiana from desecration and to enable the proper archaeological investigation and study when disturbance of a burial site is necessary or desirable. The legislature intends that this Chapter shall assure that all human burial sites shall be accorded equal treatment, protection, and respect for human dignity without reference to ethnic origins, cultural backgrounds, or religious affiliations.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.
§673. Definitions
As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
(1) "Burial artifact" means any item of human manufacture or use that is in an unmarked burial site.
(2) "Disturb" includes excavating, removing, exposing, defacing, mutilating, destroying, molesting, or desecrating in any way any unmarked burial sites or any human skeletal remains, burial artifacts, or burial markers on or in an unmarked burial site without a permit.
(3) "Human skeletal remains" means any part of the body of a deceased human being in any stage of decomposition.
(4) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism or the person designated by the secretary to administer the provisions of this Chapter.
(5) "Unmarked burial site" means the immediate area where one or more human skeletal remains are found in the ground that is not in a recognized and maintained municipal, fraternal, religious, or family cemetery, or a cemetery authorized by the Louisiana Cemetery Board.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A.
§674. Exclusions
This Chapter shall not apply to the following:
(1) A cemetery operated under the authority and regulation of the Louisiana Cemetery Board, or any recognized and maintained municipal, fraternal, religious, or family cemetery.
(2) The use of land for purposes of farming, cattle raising, timber growing, and other similar surface uses that will not result in the disturbance of human skeletal remains through excavation or other activities.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992
§675. Repealed by Acts 2009, No. 438, §6B
§676. Powers and duties of the secretary
A. The secretary shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To implement and to enforce this Chapter and the powers and duties assigned to the secretary by law.
(2) To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement and to enforce this Chapter and the powers and duties assigned to the secretary by law. All rules and regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
(3) To consult with all interested parties on occasions of disturbance of unmarked burial sites to determine a proper course of action.
(4) To institute civil proceedings seeking injunctive or other relief to restrain and to prevent violations of this Chapter or the laws or administrative rules administered or enforced by the secretary.
(5) To institute civil proceedings seeking restitution, payment of costs, or other monetary relief necessary to prevent, restore, or repair damage to unmarked burial sites, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts from unmarked burial sites, or to retrieve human skeletal remains or burial artifacts removed in violation of this Chapter.
(6) To issue permits for the disinterment and/or for the scientific study of human skeletal remains and burial artifacts found in unmarked burial sites. The secretary may adopt rules and regulations to provide for the issuance of emergency permits by the state archaeologist.
(7) To charge a permit fee not to exceed one hundred dollars for each such permit. The monies collected from the issuance of permits, subject to applicable provisions of law, shall be used as provided for funds from civil damages in Subsection B of this Section.
(8) To issue permits for the special exhibition of human skeletal remains from unmarked burial sites if the secretary determines that the remains are of exceptional scientific or cultural significance.
(9) To issue permits for the use of human skeletal remains which have been legally obtained from unmarked burial sites and are intended strictly for teaching purposes at accredited institutions of higher learning, including but not limited to nonpublic display of human skeletal remains.
B. Civil damages, except for attorney fees, recovered by the secretary, subject to applicable provisions of law, shall be used by the secretary to implement and enforce this Chapter and to fund activities of the division of archaeology in regard to restoration and protection of burial sites, in accordance with regulations adopted by the secretary and other applicable laws. Attorney fees shall be paid to the Louisiana Department of Justice.
C. Provisional permits may be used by the division of archaeology until rules and regulations governing permitting are adopted.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A.
§677. Revocation or suspension of permits
A. The secretary may revoke or suspend any permit issued under the provisions of this Chapter upon a determination that the holder of the permit has violated the provisions of this Chapter or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, or has failed to meet the professional or occupational standards determined by the secretary, or has failed to ensure that the personnel employed by the holder of the permit meet the professional or occupational standards determined by the secretary.
B. Permits may be revoked or suspended only by a ruling of the secretary based on an adjudicatory hearing held in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act.
C. The secretary shall notify each person whose permit has been revoked or suspended, by certified mail, return receipt requested.
D. Each person whose permit has been revoked or suspended shall return the permit to the secretary within fifteen days of the date on which the notice of the revocation or suspension was received.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A
§678. Unlawful acts
A. It is unlawful for any person, entity, or group, to whom the secretary has not issued a permit, to knowingly:
(1) Disturb an unmarked burial site or any human skeletal remains or burial artifacts in an unmarked burial site.
(2) Buy, sell, barter, exchange, give, receive, possess, display, discard, or destroy human skeletal remains from an unmarked burial site or burial artifacts. However, any human skeletal remains or burial artifacts from an unmarked burial site which come into Louisiana from any foreign country or any other state or territory of the United States and are documented to have been obtained lawfully under the laws of the respective country, state, or territory may be given, received, studied, or displayed without violating this Chapter.
(a) Any human remains which were lawfully acquired prior to January 1, 1992, may remain in the possession of the current holder.
(b) Any burial artifacts which were lawfully acquired prior to January 1, 1992, may remain in the possession of and be displayed by the current holder.
(3) Allow any person, entity, or group access to an unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts for the purpose of disturbing them.
(4) Provide funds to or for any person, entity, or group for the purpose of disturbing any unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts.
B. Each violation of this Section shall be punishable upon conviction of a first offense by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense each violation shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or both. Each disturbance of an unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts constitutes a separate offense.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A
§679. Civil remedies
A. The secretary may institute civil proceedings seeking injunctive relief to restrain and prevent violations of this Chapter or the laws or administrative rules administered or enforced by the secretary.
B. The secretary may also institute civil proceedings seeking civil damages from any person who knowingly violates any provision of R.S. 8:678. Civil damages shall include any or all of the following:
(1) Forfeiture of any and all equipment used in disturbing the unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts.
(2) Any and all costs incurred in cleaning, restoring, analyzing, accessioning, and curating the recovered human skeletal remains or burial artifacts.
(3) Any and all costs associated with protecting the unmarked burial site from further damage or in restoring the unmarked burial site to its original condition.
(4) Any and all costs associated with recovery of data, and analyzing, publishing, accessioning, and curating materials when the prohibited activity is so extensive as to preclude the restoration of the unmarked burial site.
(5) Any and all costs associated with the reinterment of the human skeletal remains.
(6) Any and all costs associated with determining and collecting the civil damages, including but not limited to filing fees, attorney fees, court costs, fees associated with discovery and the testimony of expert witnesses, and collection costs.
C. The secretary may bring actions for injunctive relief or civil damages in either the district court for the parish of East Baton Rouge or in the district court where the unmarked burial site, the human skeletal remains, or the burial artifacts are located.
D. The attorney general shall represent the secretary in all matters pertaining to the administration or enforcement of this Chapter, or both, except in those matters in which the secretary has employed special counsel. The secretary may employ and shall fix the compensation of such special counsel with the concurrence of the attorney general and in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding employment of special counsel.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A.
§680. Discovery of unmarked burial sites, human skeletal remains, and burial artifacts
A. Any person who has reason to believe he or she has discovered an unmarked burial site or received human skeletal remains from an unmarked burial site shall notify the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction where the site or remains are located within twenty-four hours of discovery. Any person who has reason to believe he or she has discovered or received burial artifacts shall notify the secretary through the division of archaeology within seventy-two hours of the discovery. Failure to give notice as required is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
B. Any activity that may disturb the unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts associated with the site shall immediately cease on discovery. No activity which will disturb the unmarked burial site shall resume until the secretary has issued a permit governing the disposition of the unmarked burial site, the human skeletal remains, or the burial artifacts. In no event shall the secretary take longer than thirty days to decide on issuance of a permit without the written agreement of all parties.
C. Each law enforcement agency that receives notice of an unmarked burial site or human skeletal remains shall immediately notify the coroner of the parish where the site or remains are found. The law enforcement agency shall also notify the secretary through the division of archaeology within two business days of any discovery unless circumstances indicate that the death or burial is less than fifty years old or that there is need for a criminal investigation or legal inquiry by the coroner.
D. If the coroner finds that the unmarked burial site is over fifty years old and that there is no need for a legal inquiry by his office or for a criminal investigation, the secretary shall have jurisdiction of the site, human skeletal remains, and the burial artifacts.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A.
§681. Disposition of unmarked burial sites, human skeletal remains, and burial artifacts
A. Whenever an unmarked burial site, human skeletal remains from an unmarked burial site, or burial artifacts are reported to the secretary, the disposition of unmarked burial sites, human skeletal remains, or burial artifacts shall proceed as follows:
(1) Every reasonable effort is to be made to restore the unmarked burial site and to avoid disturbing the human skeletal remains or burial artifacts:
(a) If the secretary determines that the burial site has significant scientific value, the secretary may issue a permit for scientific study.
(b) Any agreement by the owner of the property to leave the unmarked burial site undisturbed shall not constitute consent on the owner's part to allow relatives of the deceased or any other interested parties free access to the site without the owner's permission.
(2) The secretary shall make reasonable efforts to identify and locate persons who can establish direct kinship with or descent from the individual whose remains have been found.
(3) If the unmarked burial site or the human skeletal remains can be shown to have ethnic affinity with a living Native American tribe, the secretary shall notify the tribe of the discovery.
(4) If the human skeletal remains must be removed, then control of the disposition of these remains shall be in the following order:
(a) If any direct relations or descendants are found, such person or persons shall have the right to control the disposition of the human skeletal remains in accordance with R.S. 8:659.
(b) If the human skeletal remains can be shown to have ethnic affinity to any living tribe of Native Americans, then the tribe shall have control of the disposition of the human skeletal remains.
(c) If no direct relation or descendant is found or if no ethnic affinity of the human skeletal remains to any living Native American tribe can be shown or if no direct relation or descendant or Native American tribe takes responsibility for the reinterment of the human remains, then the secretary shall determine the proper disposition of the human remains.
B. If a permit has been issued pursuant to R.S. 8:676(A)(6), the cost of disinterment, reinterment, or study of the human skeletal remains shall be paid by the persons or parties requesting the permit. In the event the secretary must reinter the remains, the burial shall be paid in the same manner as an indigent or pauper burial.
C. All burial artifacts found in an unmarked burial site shall become the property of the state and the secretary shall be the custodian thereof. The disposition of the burial artifacts shall be made by the secretary in accordance with regulations. The secretary may donate the burial artifacts to an educational institution, a public museum, or a Native American tribe for display and study purposes. In no event, however, shall the secretary or any recipient sell the burial artifacts.
Acts 1991, No. 704, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2009, No. 438, §6A
Chapter 13. Micellaneous
§903. Maintenance of cemetery spaces more than fifty years old; sale of repaired abandoned cemetery spaces
A. Cemetery authorities may renovate and repair but not demolish, at their own cost and/or in conjunction with any private, state, or federal grant or fund, cemetery spaces within their cemeteries that are more than fifty years old and which have deteriorated, when the record owner or his spouse or heirs have neglected to do such renovation within one year after written notice mailed by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the last record owner on the records of the cemetery authority, the posting of notice on each of such cemetery spaces, and advertising in the official journal of the parish or municipality notifying the owner thereof that such renovation and repair will be made, unless the owner thereof objects by written notice to the office of the cemetery authority before the end of the one year period. Upon failing to receive any objections, after due notice has been given, the cemetery authority may proceed with the repairs or renovations with impunity.
B. Cemetery authorities may require the payment of all documented repair and/or renovation costs before any such renovated or repaired interment space may thereafter be used.
C. The repaired space shall revert to the ownership of the cemetery authority in the case of municipal, religious, and nonprofit cemeteries when the cemetery authority has been unable to locate, after diligent efforts, any of the owners or their successors or heirs for a period of three years following the repair or renovation, and such cemetery authority may take possession of such interment spaces and sell and convey same subject to rules and regulations as set forth in R.S. 8:308(A).
Acts 1991, No. 289,§ 4; Acts 1991, No. 430,§ 1; Acts 1992, No. 82,§ 1.
