HF 878

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/03/2011 11:59am

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; designating the Honor and Remember Flag as an official
symbol of the state's commitment to military service members who have lost
their lives in service to our country; requiring display of the flag on certain
days in certain locations; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 197.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [197.987] HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Legislative findings. new text end

new text begin The legislature of the state of Minnesota finds
and determines that:
new text end

new text begin (1) since the revolutionary war, more than 1,000,000 members of the United States
armed forces have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in active military
service for the United States of America;
new text end

new text begin (2) the contribution made by those fallen members of the armed forces is deserving
of state and national recognition; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the Honor and Remember Flag is an appropriate symbol that acknowledges the
selfless sacrifice of those members of the United States armed forces.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Designation. new text end

new text begin The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and
Remember, Inc., is designated as the symbol of our state's concern and commitment to
honoring and remembering the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces
who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving honorably in active military
service in the United States armed forces or of a service-connected cause due to or
aggravated by that service, as determined by the United States Department of Defense or
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Required days for flag display. new text end

new text begin (a) The Honor and Remember Flag must
be displayed at the locations specified in paragraph (b) on the following days each year:
new text end

new text begin (1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
new text end

new text begin (2) Flag Day, June 14;
new text end

new text begin (3) July 2nd and July 3rd, in remembrance of the 262 soldiers of the 1st Regiment
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry who, at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil
War, fought so gallantly and successfully to repulse two major Confederate attacks on the
main Union line, suffering over 80 percent casualties, thereby turning the battle and the
war and helping to preserve the Union itself at that pivotal moment in our nation's history;
new text end

new text begin (4) July 4th, Independence Day;
new text end

new text begin (5) the third Friday of September, National POW/MIA Recognition Day; and
new text end

new text begin (6) November 11, Veterans Day.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Honor and Remember Flag may also be displayed in each of the following
locations on any day on which the United States flag is displayed at that location:
new text end

new text begin (1) the Minnesota State Capitol, the Office of the Governor and each other Minnesota
constitutional office, the chambers of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of
Representatives, the Minnesota Supreme Court Building and each Minnesota District
Court House, as well as any official state of Minnesota veterans memorial, Minnesota
veterans home, or Minnesota veterans cemetery; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to the extent authorized by federal law and regulation, any United States Veterans
Cemetery, Veterans Memorial, Post Office, or other federal building, as well as any United
States Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Service Center, and
Veterans Community-Based Outreach Center.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

new text begin This section may not be construed or interpreted to require
any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the
Honor and Remember Flag or any other flag.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Implementation. new text end

new text begin No later than 60 days following enactment of this
section, the leading official of each office, agency, or other establishment responsible for a
location specified in subdivision 3, paragraph (b), shall prescribe procedures necessary
to carry out this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Procurement and distribution of flags. new text end

new text begin No later than 60 days following
enactment of this section, the official responsible for procurement within each office,
agency, or facility named in subdivision 3, paragraph (b), shall commence the procurement
of Honor and Remember Flags and distribute them as necessary to permit compliance
with this section. Any named public office or public official may accept a donation of one
or more Honor and Remember Flags for the purpose of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Postponement permitted. new text end

new text begin Any timelines and deadlines for implementation
specified in this section may be postponed or delayed by the officials responsible for
implementation out of consideration of the cost or availability of the designated flag.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011.
new text end