§ 45-5-11. Burial lands and funds. (a) Town councils may take and hold, to them and their successors in office, all lands within their towns, conveyed to them in trust for burial purposes and, in like manner, may receive, hold, and manage all funds conveyed to them for the purpose of ornamenting or keeping in repair these burial lots within their towns, and execute the trusts in accordance with the terms contained in the instruments of conveyance. Funds received, or already received, may be placed in a general burial lot fund and this fund may be invested in securities which are legal for investment of funds of savings banks in this state. The earnings of this fund shall be apportioned to the various individual trusts in the proportion each trust, including any undisbursed earnings, bears in relation to the total of the general burial lot fund. Funds received or already received for the purpose of ornamenting or keeping in repair burial lots in town-owned cemeteries may be placed in a general burial lot fund, and this fund may be invested in securities which are legal for investment of funds of savings banks in this state. The earnings of this fund shall be apportioned to the individual trusts in the proportion that the principal of each trust bears in relation to the total principal in the general burial lot fund.

(b) Effective July 1, 1976, the town of Bristol shall not apportion the earned income of the fund, and it shall be used for maintenance of the entire burial ground.

(c) Effective July 1, 1979, the towns of Tiverton and Richmond shall not apportion the earned income of their respective funds, and it shall be used for maintenance of their entire burial grounds.

(d) Effective July 1, 2013, the town of Middletown shall not apportion the earned income of the fund, and it shall be used for maintenance of the entire burial ground.

History of Section. (G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 35; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 37; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 40; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 40; P.L. 1945, ch. 1662, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-11; P.L. 1976, ch. 13, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 34, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 261, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 363, § 1.)