Section 23-21.1-03 - Creation of perpetual care fund1. Any organization subject to this chapter which is organized or commences business in this state and desires to operate as a perpetual care cemetery, before selling or disposing of any interment space or lots, shall establish a minimum perpetual care and maintenance guarantee fund of twenty-five thousand dollars in cash, except that the minimum perpetual care and maintenance guarantee fund for organizations in operation on July 1, 1963, must be five thousand dollars. The perpetual care and maintenance guarantee fund must be permanently set aside in trust to be administered under the jurisdiction of the district court of the county wherein the cemetery is located. The district court shall have jurisdiction over the approval of trustees, reports and accounting of trustees, amount of surety bond required, and investment of funds as provided by chapters 59-09, 59-10, 59-11, 59-12, 59-13, 59-14, 59-15, 59-16, 59-17, 59-18, and 59-19 relating to the administration of trust estates. Only the income from such fund may be used for the care and maintenance of the cemetery for which it was established. All such organizations shall submit at least annually, to the district court, such reports as are required. The clerks of each of the district courts shall transmit copies of all reports, and rules and regulations enacted by the organization, to the department of health and human services and the commissioner of financial institutions.2. To continue to operate as a perpetual care cemetery, any such organization shall set aside and deposit in the perpetual care fund not less than the following amounts for lots of interment space thereafter sold or disposed of:a. A minimum of twenty percent of the gross selling price with a minimum of twenty dollars for each adult space, whichever is the greater.b. A minimum of twenty percent of the gross selling price for each child's space with a minimum of five dollars for each space up to forty-two inches [1006.8 millimeters] in length or ten dollars for each space up to sixty inches [1524 millimeters] in length, whichever is the greater.c. A minimum of twenty percent of the gross selling price with a minimum of one hundred dollars for each space or crypt in a mausoleum, whichever is the greater, except a mausoleum located in a cemetery covered by a perpetual care fund which consists of at least twenty percent of the proceeds received by the cemetery from the sale of cemetery lots, in which event, the perpetual care fund for the public or community mausoleum itself shall contain a minimum of twenty percent of the cost of the construction of such public or community mausoleum.d. A minimum of twenty percent of the gross selling price with a minimum of ten dollars for each inurnment niche in a columbarium, except a columbarium located in a cemetery covered by a perpetual care fund which consists of at least twenty percent of the proceeds received by the cemetery from the sale of cemetery lots, in which event, the perpetual care fund for the public or community columbarium itself shall contain a minimum of twenty percent of the cost of the construction of such public or community columbarium.e. A minimum of twenty percent of the gross selling price with a minimum of one hundred dollars, whichever is the greater, for each interment space in crypt gardens or any other structure or device by whatever name, established or constructed wholly or partially above the natural surface of the ground, for the interment of any dead human body.3. There is no required perpetual care fund deposit on spaces provided without charge for paupers and infants.Amended by S.L. 2021, ch. 352 (HB 1247),§ 229, eff. 9/1/2022.