Bill Text: VA SB560 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: War veterans; removal, relocation, or altering of monuments.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-03 - Incorporated by Local Government (15-Y 0-N) [SB560 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SB560-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §15.2-1812 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§15.2-1812. 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.
The governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars. 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.
