Sharing a May 1, 2020 Report by the Ohio Archaeological Council - Proposed State and Federal Legislation Updates

Sharing this link to the Ohio Archaeological Council's "Government Affairs Committee Report - May 1, 2020".

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"State Issues"

Human Burial Places Protection Bill. On January 23, 2020, OAC Government Affairs Committee Chair Al Tonetti, and Amanda Terrell (Director of the State Historic Preservation Office/SHPO), and Todd Kleismit (Director of Community & Government Relations) at the Ohio History Connection (OHC), met with State Representative Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) and Yosef Schiff (Legislative Service Commission [LSC]) to discuss proposed revisions to the draft bill. Revisions were made to address concerns expressed by interested parties at their June 11, 2019 meeting. Rep. Scherer asked LSC to incorporate the revisions and said he would discuss the revised draft with interested parties one-on-one. We are working with the LSC on clarifying a few revisions. The bill was a legislative priority for Statehood Day, see below, even though it is unlikely to be enacted before Rep. Scherer retires at the end of this year. That said, we hope to have a bill introduced this year so that legislators begin to discuss it. We are seeking new sponsors for reintroduction in 2021."

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"At the Federal Level":

"H.R. 1179/S. 2827, African American Burial Grounds Network Act.

In June, the OAC joined 72 other local, state, and national organizations, including six from Ohio, in a letter of support for the bill to the Subcommittee and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Introduced on February 13, 2019, H.R. 1179 has 49 bipartisan cosponsors including Ohio Reps. Balderson (R-Troy), Beatty (D-Columbus), Fudge (D-Cuyahoga and Summit counties), and Turner (R-Dayton). On May 22, 2019, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the bill. It would create within the National Park Service the African American Burial Grounds Network that would:
• Create a voluntary, nationwide database of historic African American burial grounds, with the consent of the property owner;

• Provide technical assistance to local public, private, state, and local partners to research, survey, identify, record, preserve, evaluate, and interpret these burial grounds;

• Make available grants for local groups to research, survey, identify, record, and aid in the preservation of sites within the Network; and
• Establish educational materials for community members, local groups, and schools about African American burial grounds.

On November 11, 2019, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown introduced companion bill S. 2827 in the U.S. Senate. It was assigned to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It has six bipartisan cosponsors. The bill has not had a hearing."

Ohio History Connection - "Enact Better Legislation to Protect Ohio's Human Burial Places"

Among the main focus issues of the Ohio History Connection on Ohio Statehood Day for its 2019 "Legislative Priorities" will be enacting better legislation to protect Ohio's human burial places.

  

This proposal helps us build upon and advance the belief that "All Cemeteries Matter" - which further translates into all gravesites and graves markers for them matter.  

Gravesites sit on land, whether it be at sprawling modern day cemeteries or "memorial park"settings, or on single gravesites left from long ago farm lands that have been built upon by developers.  These sacred spaces are more vulnerable than ever because too many have already been lost.  

Too much history and respect have already been lost.  One of the reasons for this crisis is that over time the laws provided little to no safeguards to protect them.  

Taking stronger steps now can prevent further harm to Ohio's cemeteries that they have for far too long faced.

An Editorial from the "The Intelligencer - The Wheeling News-Register" - "Keep Cemeteries in Good Repair"

Sharing a link to this Editorial published February 7, 2019 by "The Intelligencer - The Wheeling News-Register" from Wheeling, West Virginia - "Keep Cemeteries in Good Repair." 

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This editorial follows on the heels of a news story published on February 4, 2019 about Martins Ferry's Riverview Cemetery - "Martins Ferry Works to Address Problems at Riverview Cemetery."

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Thanking "The Intelligencer" for publishing these cemetery-related stories because the public may not become aware of cemetery issues unless and until they are personally impacted by them. 

In my humble opinion, the public can never be informed enough when it comes to the news (both good and bad) about the final resting places of our relatives, ancestors, and friends.  

Ohio State Bar Association Web Site - "State Law Regulates Most Ohio Cemeteries"

Click on title to link to the Ohio State Bar Association's web site and the section entitled:  "State Law Regulates Most Ohio Cemeteries"  Of particular note is the first question:  "Are all cemeteries in Ohio regulated by state law" - the answer states cemeteries with burials dating back greater than 25 years do not have to be registered with the Ohio Department of Real Estate.  It also explains their defintion of a private family cemetery.