FLAGS ON VETERANS' GRAVES H.B. 4272 (H-1) & 4273 (H-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY




House Bill 4272 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
House Bill 4273 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Tim Moore (H.B. 4272) Representative Kevin Elsenheimer (H.B. 4273)
House Committee: Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security
Senate Committee: Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs


Date Completed: 5-2-05

CONTENT The bills would amend Public Act 63 of 1915 (which requires a city, village, or township to furnish and pay for suitable flag holders and United States flags for the graves of veterans in a cemetery owned by the local unit) to allow a city, village, township, or county to pay for and provide flag holders and U.S. flags for the graves of veterans located within the city, village, township, or county at a cemetery that was not owned by that local unit of government.
 House Bill 4272 (H-1)
Under the Act, the legislative body of a city, village, or township, upon the petition of five eligible voters, must procure for and furnish to the petitioners, at the municipality's expense, a suitable flag holder and U.S. flag for the grave of each veteran of the U.S. armed forces who is buried in a cemetery belonging to the city, village, or township.


The bill would allow the legislative body of a city, village, or township, upon the petition of five eligible voters, to procure for and furnish to the petitioners, at the municipality's expense, a suitable flag holder and U.S. flag for the grave of each veteran of the U.S. armed forces who was buried in any cemetery located within limits of the city, village, or township that did not belong to the city, village, or township.

House Bill 4273 (H-2)
The bill would allow the legislative body of a county, upon the petition of five eligible voters, to procure for and furnish to the petitioners, at the county's expense, a suitable flag holder and U.S. flag for the grave of each veteran of the U.S. armed forces who was buried in any cemetery located within the county that did not belong to that county.


MCL 35.831 (H.B. 4272) Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
Proposed MCL 35.831a (H.B. 4273)






FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no effect on State revenue or expenditures. Local units' expenses could increase by an indeterminate amount, but local unit revenue would not be affected by the bills.


This analysis is preliminary and will be revised as new information becomes available.

Fiscal Analyst: David Zin

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. hb4272&4273/0506