The bill would amend the Government Code to authorize the Historical Commission to distribute funds from the General Revenue-Dedicated Preservation Trust Fund Account 664 for the construction of a monument or memorial on state, municipal, or county owned property.
The bill would expand the definition of a monument or memorial under Section 2166.5011, Government Code, to include a bridge name, park name, and area name. The bill would add provisions regarding the removal, relocation, or alteration of memorials and monuments on state, municipal and county owned property. The bill would authorize a resident to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) regarding an alleged violation of Section 2166.5011(b), Government Code, as amended by this bill, and Section 338.002, Local Government Code, as added by this bill, pertaining to the removal, relocation or alteration of memorials or monuments on state, municipal and county owned property. If the OAG determines that the complaint against the entity is valid, the OAG 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 a district court in the county in which the suspected violation of Section 338.002 occurred, to compel the entity to comply with the applicable section of statute. If an entity is found by a court as having intentionally violated the applicable section of statute, the entity would be subject to civil penalties as provided by the bill. The civil penalties would be deposited to the General Revenue Fund.
The sovereign immunity of the state and governmental immunity of a county or municipality to suit would be waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by the bill.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, any potential increase to the General Revenue Fund from the deposit of civil penalties resulting from actions authorized by the bill cannot be estimated at this time.
Based on analysis by the OAG, the provisions of the bill relating to citizen complaints could result in increased court actions related to monuments, however any additional legal work resulting from the bill could be absorbed using current resources.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.