MS HB960

Allows for-profit cemeteries to terminate ownership rights to burial spaces or entombment rights that have remained unused for at least 99 years and have no improvements.

Requires cemetery owners to send termination notice by certified mail to the owner's last known address and allows the original owner 90 days to respond claiming continued intent.

If no response within 90 days, cemetery must advertise in local newspaper for three consecutive weeks seeking the owner's current address, and if still no response within 90 additional days, rights are terminated.

Entitles terminated owners who later contact the cemetery to either reclaim the original space if unsold or receive reimbursement for the resale price minus notice costs, advertising costs, and amounts required for perpetual care trust.

Subjects cemetery operators to penalties for knowingly terminating rights without proper notice when they knew or should have known the owner's identity; applies only to for-profit cemeteries, effective July 1, 2015.