HB 896 -- State Park Board

Sponsor:  Mayer

This bill 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 consists of nine
to 11 members, with one member from each congressional district
and at least two members from counties with a state historic site
of significant importance to military history.  Members are
appointed by the Governor, with approval of the Senate, and serve
three-year staggered terms.  The director of the department
serves as chair with a tie-breaking vote, and the executive
director of the State Historical Society is an ex-officio member.
The board meets at least twice annually.  Members serve without
compensation, but are reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The board holds 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 department sites; maintains a registry of monuments
and markers on public and private property; establishes
procedures for the historical marker program; and publishes an
annual report.

The bill 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.

The provisions of the bill will expire six years from the
effective date.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am