Senate Bill 2767

AN ACT TO CODIFY SECTION 3-3-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE ALTERATION OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following provision shall be codified as Section 3-3-16, Mississippi Code of 1972:

3-3-16. None of the following items, structures or areas may be relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, renamed or rededicated: Any Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, War Between the States, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Native-American or African-American historical statue, monument, memorial or nameplate, which has been erected on public property of the state or any of its political subdivisions; and any statue, monument, memorial, nameplate, street, bridge, building, park, preserve, reserve or other public item, structure or area of the state or any of its political subdivisions, which has been dedicated in memory of or named for any historical figure or historical event.

No person may prevent the public body responsible for maintaining any of the items, structures or areas described above from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation and care of those items, structures or areas.

The provisions of this section may be amended or repealed only upon passage of an act that has received a two-thirds (2/3) vote on final passage in each house of the Legislature.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.