Scarsdale, NY – Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) announces the passage of legislation (A.7652A) that would allow cemetery corporations to utilize the internet to provide sales of cemetery lots and services.

Over the last several weeks, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of thousands of New Yorkers. As families mourn the unexpected and tragic loss of their loved ones, they face additional hardships as they consider how they will lay their loved ones to rest amidst this pandemic.

Prior to this legislation, cemeteries were only able to offer in-person purchasing methods meaning families must travel to the cemetery themselves. The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the need for online transactions. In many cases, the family members of a person who has died of COVID-19 may be under mandatory quarantine or infected with COVID-19 themselves, making an in-person transaction impossible. For family members who live far away from the deceased person, travelling to a cemetery is difficult if not impossible.

“No family should have to worry about travelling to a cemetery to locate a plot for their loved one when these transactions could easily be done online,” Paulin said. “It adds needless stress to grieving families. In the current pandemic, it is critically important that we limit in-person interactions as much as possible. Family members should not have to risk their health to make these purchases in person.”

Cemeteries have faced enormous burdens during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and many were already struggling financially before then. The passage of this legislation will help to modernize some cemetery operations.

This legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Leroy Comrie.