An Act To Establish a Fund to Provide American Flags at Veterans' Graves
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1607
Committee Amendment CA_A_H319 (House)
Amends: 37-B MRSA §504

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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,1/ " 
to H.P. 1129, L.D. 1607, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish a Fund to Provide American Flags at Veterans' Graves" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, honoring veterans buried in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery 
System by placing the United States flag on their graves is our duty as citizens; and 
Whereas, the somber occasion of Memorial Day 2007, the day that we honor the 
sacrifices of those that served their country, will come to pass prior to the adjournment of 
the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §504, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. II, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
5. Weekend visitation. The superintendent director of the cemetery system shall 
arrange visiting hours to provide public access to the cemeteries at least one Saturday or 
Sunday each month. 
Regularly scheduled weekly visiting hours may be adjusted to 
provide for the weekend hours. 
Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §504, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7. Flag placement program. The director of the cemetery system shall establish a 
program to facilitate the placement of 12-inch by 18-inch American flags at the graves of 
veterans buried in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System. This program must 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "A · 
to H.P. 1129, L.D. 1607 
I 
allow for volunteer organizations to place flags on graves beginning 2 days prior to the 
day Memorial Day is observed and for removal by volunteer organizations 3 days after 
the day Memorial Day is observed. The director of the cemetery system shall permit a 
limited extension beyond the 3 days, so that the flags do not have to be 'removed in 
inclement weather. The director of the cemetery system is authorized to use funds as 
provided in subsection 8 and to accept private donations of flags, tools or other 
equipment necessary to implement the program. 
Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §504, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8. Flag placement fund. 
There is established the Maine Veterans' Memorial 
Cemetery Flag Placement Fund, an interest-bearing account, referred to in this subsection 
II 
as "the fund." The fund receives money appropriated from the General Fund and any 
other money contributed voluntarily to the fund. All money deposited in the fund and the 
earnings on that money remain in the fund to be used to implement the flag placement 
program as described in subsection 7, specifically for the purchase of new flags as needed 
to ensure each veteran's grave is decorated as required by subsection 7 and as 
replacements for damaged flags. Money in the fund may not be deposited in the General 
Fund or any other fund except as specifically provided by law. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.; 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which was a concept draft. 
This amendment 
establishes a flag placement program that requires the director of the Maine Veterans' 
Memorial Cemetery System to permit volunteers to place flags on veterans' graves from 2 
days before to 3 days after Memorial Day. 
Under this program the director of the 
cemetery system may accept private donations of flags, tools and other equipment 
necessary to provide for the placement of flags. The amendment establishes a fund to 
carry out the purposes of the program. The fund may accept appropriations from the 
General Fund as well as private donations. The amendment also makes a minor technical 
change to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 504, subsection 5. 
FISCAL ~OTE R£(.!L IRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05124/07 haC! 
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LD 1607 
LR 221(02) 
An Act To Establish a Fund to Provide American Flags at Veterans' Graves 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "~,, 
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
The establishment of the Maine .veterans' Memorial Cemetery Flag Placement Fund within the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management will increase the department's dedicated expenditures and revenues. 
The amounts will depend on the funds collected by the department for the fund and can not be determined at this time. 
The establishment of a flag placement program can be implemented by the department by utilizing currently budgeted 
resources. The immediate costs of procuring flags will be significantly reduced by the May 2007 donation of 13,000 
gravesite flags to the State by the American Legion. 
LR022 1(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1