Source: https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2020/hb1537/fulltext/
Timestamp: 2020-03-30 00:38:06
Document Index: 413981790

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 24', '§ 24', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 24', '§ 24', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15']

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HOUSE BILL NO. 1537 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 7, 2020) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates McQuinn and Hudson [HB 1625]) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1812, 15.2-1812.1, and 18.2-137 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal Chapter 119 of the Acts of Assembly of 1890, relating to war memorials for veterans.
1. That §§ 15.2-1812, 15.2-1812.1, and 18.2-137 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
C. A locality may, prior to initiating the provisions of subsection B, petition the judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over the locality for an advisory referendum to be held on the question of the proposal to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any monument or memorial located on the locality's public property. Upon the receipt of such petition, the circuit court shall order an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity with § 24.2-682. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684.
2. For a privately owned monument, marker or memorial on a locality's public property, such action may be commenced by the private organization, society or museum that owns it or any member of such organization, society or museum owner of such monument or memorial. No locality or its officers, employees, or agents shall be liable for damages pursuant to this section when taking action pursuant to § 15.2-1812 except for gross negligence by a duly authorized officer, employee, or agent of the locality.
A. If any person unlawfully destroys, defaces, damages, or removes without the intent to steal any property, real or personal, not his own, or breaks down, destroys, defaces, damages, or removes without the intent to steal, any monument or memorial for war veterans, not his own, described in § 15.2-1812,; any monument erected for the purpose of marking to mark the site of any engagement fought during the Civil War between the States, or for the purpose of designating any memorial to designate the boundaries of any city, town, tract of land, or any tree marked for that purpose, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor;, provided that the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the charge if the locality or organization that owns or is responsible for maintaining the injured property, monument, or memorial files a written affidavit with the court stating it has received full payment for the injury.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1537 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Local Government on March 2, 2020) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates McQuinn and Hudson [HB 1625]) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1812, 15.2-1812.1, and 18.2-137 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal Chapter 119 of the Acts of Assembly of 1890, relating to war memorials for veterans.
A. A locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or conflict, or for any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following monuments or memorials: Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Confederate or Union monuments or memorials of the Civil War Between the States (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). If such are erected, it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same. For purposes of this section, "disturb or interfere with" includes removal of, damaging or defacing monuments or memorials, or, in the case of the War Between the States, the placement of Union markings or monuments on previously designated Confederate memorials or the placement of Confederate markings or monuments on previously designated Union memorials Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter any such monument or memorial on the locality's public property, not including a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected, after complying with the provisions of subsection B.
B. The governing body of any locality proposing to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter any such monument or memorial from the locality's public property shall initiate such process by passing a resolution stating its intention. Concurrent with the resolution, the governing body shall formally request the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (Department) to prepare a report that, at a minimum, sets forth the background of the person or people depicted on the monument or memorial, the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the monument or memorial, and whether the monument or memorial qualifies for placement on the Virginia Landmarks Register or the National Register of Historic Places. The Department may include any additional information in its report that it believes will be helpful to the governing body and shall complete such report within 90 days of the request. The locality shall (i) pay the actual cost of the preparation of the report to the Department, (ii) post a copy of the report prominently on its website, and (iii) make a copy of the report available for inspection at its administrative offices. No sooner than 30 days after publication of the report on its website, the governing body shall hold a public hearing to solicit comments. No sooner than 10 days after completion of the public hearing, the governing body may vote whether to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter the monument or memorial. A motion to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter the monument or memorial shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to the governing body for passage. Alternatively, prior to voting on any such motion, and after complying with the other provisions of this subsection, the governing body may by majority vote call for an advisory referendum pursuant to subsection C. Prior to removing, relocating, contextualizing, covering, or altering any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.
C. A locality may, pursuant to subsection B, petition the judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over the locality for an advisory referendum to be held on the question of the proposal to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter any monument or memorial from the locality's public property. Upon the receipt of such petition, the circuit court shall order an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity with § 24.2-682. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684.
D. The governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection, contextualization, covering, removal, relocation, or alteration of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or any engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body may also make a special levy to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any such monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that may be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such locality, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and preserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other funds are expended.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1537 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates McQuinn and Hudson [HB 1625]) House Amendments in [ ] – February 10, 2020 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1812, 15.2-1812.1, and 18.2-137 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal Chapter 119 of the Acts of Assembly of 1890, relating to war memorials for veterans.
A. A locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or conflict, or for any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following monuments or memorials: Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Confederate or Union monuments or memorials of the Civil War Between the States (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). If such are erected, it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same. For purposes of this section, "disturb or interfere with" includes removal of, damaging or defacing monuments or memorials, or, in the case of the War Between the States, the placement of Union markings or monuments on previously designated Confederate memorials or the placement of Confederate markings or monuments on previously designated Union memorials Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, cover, or alter any such monument or memorial on the locality's public property upon the affirmative vote of its governing body, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected.
B. Prior to removing [ , and ] relocating [ , or destroying ] any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.
The governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection, contextualization, covering, removal, relocation, or alteration of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or any engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body may also make a special levy to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any such monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that may be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such locality, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and preserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other funds are expended.
1. For a publicly owned monument, marker or memorial, such action may be commenced against a person other than a locality or its duly authorized officers or employees by the attorney for the locality in which it is located; or, if no such action has commenced within sixty days following any such violation or encroachment, by any person having an interest in the matter with the consent of the governing body or public officer having control of the monument or memorial; and
B. If any person who is not the owner of such property intentionally causes such injury, he shall be is guilty of (i) a Class 1 misdemeanor if the value of or damage to the property, memorial or monument is less than $1,000 or (ii) a Class 6 felony if the value of or damage to the property, memorial or monument is $1,000 or more. The amount of loss caused by the destruction, defacing, damage or removal of such property, memorial or monument may be established by proof of the fair market cost of repair or fair market replacement value. Upon conviction, the court may order that the defendant pay restitution.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1537 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on February 7, 2020) (Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates McQuinn and Hudson [HB 1625]) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1812, 15.2-1812.1, and 18.2-137 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal Chapter 119 of the Acts of Assembly of 1890, relating to war memorials for veterans.
B. Prior to removing, relocating, or destroying any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1537 Offered January 10, 2020 A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1812 of the Code of Virginia, relating to memorials for war veterans.
A locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for any war or conflict, or for any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following monuments or memorials: Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Confederate or Union monuments or memorials of the War Between the States (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). If such are erected, it shall be unlawful for the authorities of the locality, or any other person or persons, to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials so erected, or to prevent its citizens from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of same. For purposes of this section, "disturb or interfere with" includes removal of, damaging or defacing monuments or memorials, or, in the case of the War Between the States, the placement of Union markings or monuments on previously designated Confederate memorials or the placement of Confederate markings or monuments on previously designated Union memorials A locality may remove, relocate, or alter any such monument or memorial, regardless of when erected.
For a plain English description of this bill, comments, voting, tagging, etc., return to the main page for HB1537.