HCS SCS SB 845 -- MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, STATE PARK SYSTEM, AND
MILITARY MEMORIALS

SPONSOR:  Yeckel (Jackson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation and Motor Vehicles by a vote of 20 to 0.

This substitute establishes the "Grand Army of the Republic
Memorial Highway" on the portion of Interstate 44 from the
intersection of U. S. Highway 100 at the City of Gray Summit west
to the county line of Franklin and Crawford counties.  The
Department of Missouri, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
will pay for all appropriate signage.

The substitute establishes the Missouri State Park Board within
the Department of Natural Resources as the authority for all
matters pertaining to the state park system.  The board will
consist of eight members, six will reside in separate
congressional districts and at least two members will be from
counties with a state historic site of significant importance to
military history.  Members will be appointed by the Governor,
with approval of the Senate, and serve three-year staggered
terms.  The director of the department will serve as the chair
with a tie-breaking vote, and the Executive Director of the State
Historical Society will be an ex-officio member.  The board will
meet at least quarterly.  Members will serve without
compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The board will hold public meetings on any addition,
modification, or removal of military monuments, historical
markers, designated veteran's grave markers, accepted practices,
or permitted public ceremonies on registered historical sites;
maintain a registry of monuments and markers on public and
private property; establish procedures for the historical marker
program; and publish an annual report.

The substitute also prohibits any state agency from erecting,
modifying, or removing any monument or marker or amending any
accepted practice or permitted public ceremony at a department
site without notifying the public at least 60 days prior to any
planned action, holding a hearing, and receiving approval from
the board.  Any monuments or markers that were in place on
December 21, 2002, must be replaced by August 28, 2004.
Monuments may be moved to surrounding property or to accommodate
construction or repairs.  Anyone who removes, defaces, or
destroys any monument, memorial, or designated veteran's grave
marker is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Unknown in
FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.  No impact on Other State Funds in
FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say they would like this highway
designation.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Yeckel.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:16 am