MEMORIAL GRAVE MARKERS H.B. 5496: FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5496 (as reported without amendment) Sponsor: Representative Alan Cropsey
House Committee: Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs
Senate Committee: Human Resources, Labor and Veterans Affairs
The bill would amend Public Act 63 of 1915, which provides for the furnishing of flag holders and U.S. flags for the graves of U.S. military veterans, to increase from $50 to $500 the maximum fine for willfully taking down, destroying, defacing, or carrying away a flag holder or other design or memorial flag placed at a grave for memorial purposes, without authority from the person causing the marker to be placed in the cemetery or at the grave. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days’ imprisonment, the maximum fine, or both.
The bill also would add unauthorized possession of a flag holder or other design or memorial flag to the offense, and specifies that the misdemeanor would apply if the action occurred without authority from either the person causing the marker to be placed or the owner of the cemetery.
MCL 35.833 Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State, and could result in additional revenue to local units of government as a result of the increased fine proposed by the bill. Given that there are very little data available on misdemeanor violations, attempting to predict the estimated impact due to the increased fine is difficult.
Date Completed: 5-9-96 Fiscal Analyst: M. Hansen
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.