FL S0844

Elevates willful destruction, mutilation, or removal of tombs, monuments, gravestones, and burial structures to a third-degree felony, with exceptions for routine maintenance and historical resource division activities.

Makes willfully excavating, exposing, moving, or removing contents of graves or tombs a second-degree felony.

Allows cemetery owners, officers, employees, or agents exempt from regulation under chapter 497 to relocate grave or tomb contents with written contract from legally authorized persons or after 75 years have passed since entombment.

Requires public notice published weekly for 4 consecutive weeks in local newspapers before relocation if legally authorized person cannot be located or 75+ years have elapsed, with 30-day minimum wait period before proceeding.

Requires public hearing before county commission or city council if a legally authorized person refuses to sign a relocation contract or objects to the proposed relocation; effective October 1, 2017.