SECTION 1. The commissioner
of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the
commissioners of mental health, mental retardation, public health and
correction shall conduct an investigation and study to identify, record,
photograph and map burial grounds, cemeteries and other grave sites located on
current or former state-owned public facilities now or formerly under their
jurisdiction and control to which the commonwealth retains or can acquire
without expense a right of re-entry. On or before June 30, 2008, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall, in
consultation with the commissioners of those departments, file with the
secretary of administration and finance and the chairmen of the joint committee
on state administration a report, together with maps, photographs and copies of
other documentation in the possession of the division of capital asset
management and maintenance or those departments detailing the location of any
such burial ground, cemetery or other grave site. The report shall
include a statement by the commissioner of capital asset management and
maintenance of the present condition of any such burial ground, cemetery or
other grave site and any action the division or departments have taken, are
taking, and will be taking to cleanup, rehabilitate, reconstruct, restore and
make accessible each such burial ground, cemetery or other grave site.
The report shall include a list of the names and grave or plot numbers of all
persons reported to be buried in the burial grounds, cemeteries and other grave
sites, a directory of the names and grave stones or plot marker numbers of all
persons who are known to be buried in the burial grounds, cemeteries and other
grave sites and an inventory of the total number of existing grave stones or
plot marker numbers.
The report shall also include a detailed
clarification by each of those departments for any discrepancies found to exist
between the total number of persons known to be buried in the burial grounds,
cemeteries and other grave sites and the total number of grave stones or plot
marker numbers found there and the total number of persons reported to have
been buried in the burial grounds, cemeteries and grave sites, if any, located
on current or former state-owned public facilities now or formerly under their
jurisdiction and control to which the commonwealth retains or can acquire
without expense a right of re-entry.
