It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 45-5-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-5 entitled "Councils and Governing Bodies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 45-5-12. Neglected burial grounds. -- ADD} {ADD (a) ADD} Town council {DEL s DEL} may also take possession of and hold ancient, neglected, or abandoned burial grounds {ADD including historic cemeteries as defined in section 23-18-1(6), ADD} whenever they can take possession without opposition from the persons interested therein; and the councils may take, hold, and manage in trust all funds given to the councils to keep these grounds in repair or for ornamenting or improving these grounds, and may in their discretion appropriate from the treasury of their respective towns money for the purpose of keeping in repair, preserving the monuments in, and maintaining any neglected burial ground.

{ADD (b) Any person interested in caring for a burial ground described in section (a) which has not been maintained and the owner of which is unknown or whose present address is unknown, may petition the town council for permission to clean up and maintain such burial ground at said person's own expense. Upon approval of such petition on any conditions the council may deem appropriate, the council shall cause an advertisement to be placed in a local newspaper providing notice that the burial ground is to be entered and cleaned up and thereafter maintained, and notifying persons with a property interest in such burial ground who has objections to come forward by a date certain. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.