Tex. Health & Safety Code Section 712.048
Criminal Penalties


(a)

A person who is an individual, firm, association, corporation, or municipality, or an officer, agent, or employee of an individual, firm, association, corporation, or municipality, commits an offense if the person sells, offers to sell, or advertises for sale an interment right in a plot and, before a fund is established for the cemetery in which the plot is located as provided by this chapter, represents that the plot is under perpetual care. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor. This subsection does not prevent an aggrieved party or the attorney general from maintaining a civil action for the recovery of damages caused by an injury resulting from an offense under this subsection.

(b)

A person who is an individual, firm, association, corporation, or municipality, or an officer, agent, or employee of an individual, firm, association, corporation, or municipality, commits an offense if the person knowingly defalcates or misappropriates assets of a fund. An offense under this subsection is punishable as if it were an offense under Section 32.45 (Misapplication of Fiduciary Property or Property of Financial Institution), Penal Code.

(c)

A person commits an offense if the person collects money for the purchase of a memorial, as defined by Section 711.001 (Definitions), and knowingly defalcates or misappropriates the funds. An offense under this subsection is punishable as if it were an offense under Section 32.45 (Misapplication of Fiduciary Property or Property of Financial Institution), Penal Code. This subsection does not prevent an aggrieved party or the attorney general from maintaining a civil action for the recovery of damages, or the commissioner from maintaining an administrative action for restitution, caused by an injury resulting from an offense under this subsection.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 46, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 532 (H.B. 2495), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1336 (S.B. 1167), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2011.

Source: Section 712.048 — Criminal Penalties, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.­712.­htm#712.­048 (accessed Apr. 20, 2024).

712.001
Definitions
712.002
Exemptions from Chapter
712.003
Registration Required
712.004
Perpetual Care Trust Fund Required
712.005
Cancellation of Charter for Failure to Begin Operation of Perpetual Care Cemetery
712.007
Notice of Perpetual Care Required
712.008
Rules
712.009
Limitations on Burials
712.020
Conflict with Other Law
712.021
Establishment and Purposes of Fund
712.022
Operation of Perpetual Care Cemetery
712.023
Validity of Contributions
712.024
Amendment of Trust Instrument
712.025
Use of Fund Distributions
712.026
Suit by Plot Owners to Maintain Perpetual Care
712.027
Investment of Fund
712.028
Amount of Fund Deposits from Sales
712.029
Accounting for and Depositing Amounts
712.030
Use of Gift for Special Care of Plot in Perpetual Care Cemetery
712.0032
Certificate of Authority Requirement
712.0033
Certificate of Authority Application
712.0034
Qualifications for Certificate of Authority
712.0035
Issuance of Certificate of Authority
712.0036
Term of Certificate of Authority
712.0037
Renewal of Certificate of Authority
712.0038
Transfer or Assignment Prohibited
712.0039
Transfer of Business Ownership
712.041
Annual Statement of Funds
712.042
Fees
712.043
Additional Fund Report
712.044
Examination of Records
712.045
Revocation or Suspension of Certificate of Authority
712.048
Criminal Penalties
712.061
Offer and Sale of Undeveloped Mausoleum Space
712.062
Deposits to Fund
712.063
Preconstruction Trust
712.064
Construction
712.065
Release of Trust Funds to Corporation
712.066
Contract Disclosures
712.067
Bond in Lieu of Preconstruction Trust
712.068
Reports
712.0255
Judicial Modification or Termination of Fund
712.0351
Definitions
712.0352
Modification of Distribution Method
712.0353
Determination of Fair Market Value
712.0354
Determination of Total Return Percentage
712.0355
Regulatory Limits on Distributions
712.0356
Rules
712.0357
Nature of Total Return Distributions
712.00395
Surrender of Certificate of Authority
712.0435
Investigations
712.0441
Enforcement
712.0442
Pattern of Wilful Disregard
712.0443
Cease and Desist Order
712.0444
Emergency Order
712.0445
Receivership Proceedings

Accessed:
Apr. 20, 2024

§ 712.048’s source at texas​.gov