87R6104 YDB-F
By: Hefner H.B. No. 2713
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the removal, relocation, alteration, or construction of
certain monuments or memorials located on public property;
providing civil penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 442.015(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The commission may use distributions from the Texas
preservation trust fund account to provide financial assistance to
public or private entities for the acquisition, survey,
restoration, or preservation, or for planning and educational
activities leading to the preservation, of historic property in the
state that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or
designated as a State Archeological Landmark or Recorded Texas
Historic Landmark, or that the commission determines is eligible
for such listing or designation or for the construction of a
monument or memorial described by Section 2166.5011(c) or by
Section 338.003, Local Government Code. The financial assistance
may be in the amount and form and according to the terms that the
commission by rule determines. The commission shall give priority
to property the commission determines to be endangered by
demolition, neglect, underuse, looting, vandalism, or other threat
to the property. Gifts and grants deposited to the credit of the
account specifically for any eligible projects may be used only for
the type of projects specified. If such a specification is not
made, the gift or grant shall be unencumbered and accrue to the
benefit of the Texas preservation trust fund account. If such a
specification is made, the entire amount of the gift or grant may be
used during any period for the project or type of project specified.
SECTION 2. Section 2166.5011, Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 2166.5011. REMOVAL, RELOCATION, [OR] ALTERATION, OR
CONSTRUCTION OF A MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL. (a) In this section,
"monument or memorial" means a permanent monument, memorial, or
other designation, including a statue, portrait, plaque, seal,
symbol, building name, bridge name, park name, area name, or street
name, that:
(1) is located on state property; and
(2) honors an event or person of historic significance
[a citizen of this state for military or war-related service].
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a
monument or memorial that is located on state property:
(1) for at least 40 years may not be removed,
relocated, or altered;
(2) for at least 20 years but less than 40 years may be
removed, relocated, or altered only by approval of a concurrent
resolution authorizing the removal, relocation, or alteration,
including alteration to maintain historical accuracy, by a
two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature; or
(3) for less than 20 years may be removed, relocated,
or altered, including alteration to maintain historical accuracy,
only[:
[(1)] by the legislature[;
[(2) by the Texas Historical Commission;
[(3) by the State Preservation Board; or
[(4) as provided by Subsection (c)].
(c) An additional [A] monument or memorial may be
constructed on [removed, relocated, or altered in a manner
otherwise provided by this code as necessary to accommodate
construction, repair, or improvements to the monument or memorial
or to] the surrounding state property on which a [the] monument or
memorial is located to complement or contrast with the existing
monument or memorial. [Any monument or memorial that is permanently
removed under this subsection must be relocated to a prominent
location.]
SECTION 3. Subchapter K, Chapter 2166, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2166.5015 to read as follows:
Sec. 2166.5015. COMPLAINT; EQUITABLE RELIEF; CIVIL
PENALTY. (a) A resident of this state may file a complaint with the
attorney general if the resident asserts facts supporting an
allegation that an entity has violated Section 2166.5011(b). The
resident must include a sworn statement with the complaint stating
that to the best of the resident's knowledge all of the facts
asserted in the complaint are true and correct.
(b) If the attorney general determines that a complaint
filed under Subsection (a) against an entity is valid, the attorney
general may file a petition for a writ of mandamus or apply for
other appropriate equitable relief in a district court in Travis
County to compel the entity that is suspected of violating Section
2166.5011(b) to comply with that subsection.
(c) An entity that is found by a court as having
intentionally violated Section 2166.5011(b) is subject to a civil
penalty in an amount of:
(1) not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for
the first violation; and
(2) not less than $25,000 and not more than $25,500 for
each subsequent violation.
(d) Each day of a continuing violation of Section
2166.5011(b) constitutes a separate violation for purposes of a
civil penalty under this section.
(e) The court that hears an action brought under this
section against an entity shall determine the amount of the civil
penalty.
(f) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be
deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.
(g) Sovereign immunity of this state to suit is waived and
abolished to the extent of liability created by this section.
SECTION 4. Subtitle C, Title 10, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 338 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 338. MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS
Sec. 338.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "monument or
memorial" means a permanent monument, memorial, or other
designation, including a statue, portrait, plaque, seal, symbol,
building name, bridge name, park name, area name, or street name,
that honors an event or person of historic significance.
Sec. 338.002. REMOVAL, RELOCATION, OR ALTERATION. A
monument or memorial that is located on municipal or county
property:
(1) for at least 40 years may not be removed,
relocated, or altered;
(2) for at least 20 years but less than 40 years may be
removed, relocated, or altered, including alteration to maintain
historical accuracy, only by approval of a majority of the voters of
the municipality or county, as applicable, voting at an election
held for that purpose; or
(3) for less than 20 years may be removed, relocated,
or altered, including alteration to maintain historical accuracy,
only by the governing body of the municipality or the commissioners
court of the county, as applicable.
Sec. 338.003. ADDITIONAL MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL. An
additional monument or memorial may be constructed on the
surrounding municipal or county property on which a monument or
memorial is located to complement or contrast with the existing
monument or memorial.
Sec. 338.004. COMPLAINT; EQUITABLE RELIEF; CIVIL PENALTY.
(a) A resident of a municipality or county, as applicable, may file
a complaint with the attorney general if the resident asserts facts
supporting an allegation that the municipality or county has
violated Section 338.002. The resident must include a sworn
statement with the complaint stating that to the best of the
resident's knowledge all of the facts asserted in the complaint are
true and correct.
(b) If the attorney general determines that a complaint
filed under Subsection (a) against a municipality or county is
valid, the attorney general may file a petition for a writ of
mandamus or apply for other appropriate equitable relief in a
district court in Travis County or in the county in which the
suspected violation of Section 338.002 is alleged to have occurred
to compel the municipality or county to comply with that section.
(c) A municipality or county that is found by a court as
having intentionally violated Section 338.002 is subject to a civil
penalty in an amount of:
(1) not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for
the first violation; and
(2) not less than $25,000 and not more than $25,500 for
each subsequent violation.
(d) Each day of a continuing violation of Section 338.002
constitutes a separate violation for purposes of a civil penalty
under this section.
(e) The court that hears an action brought under this
section against a municipality or county shall determine the
amount of the civil penalty.
(f) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be
deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.
(g) Sovereign immunity of this state and governmental
immunity of a county or municipality to suit is waived and abolished
to the extent of liability created by this section.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.