| Chapter 281 |
| 2015 -- S 1008 Enacted 07/15/2015 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - BATTLE FLAGS AND MARKERS |
| Introduced By: Senators Lynch, and Pichardo |
| Date Introduced: June 23, 2015 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 37-8-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-8 entitled "Public |
| Buildings" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 37-8-8. Battle flags and markers. – (a) The priceless battle flags and markers now |
| belonging to the state of Rhode Island, and any which that may hereafter be presented to this |
| state, shall be maintained by the department of administration in embellished cases suitable for |
| their display in the halls or foyers of the State House, and the cases shall be practically |
| hermetically sealed for the purpose of protecting and preserving the battle flags and markers for |
| future generations as the most eloquent testimonials of the patriotism and valor of our fathers. |
| The battle flags and markers shall not be removed from the cases for any purpose other than for |
| their necessary repair or preservation. The department of administration shall have full care, |
| custody, and control of all the battle flags and markers, and the department is hereby authorized |
| and directed to carry out and enforce the provisions and purposes of this section. |
| (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department of administration is |
| authorized to remove, conserve, and indefinitely store any battle flag or marker it deems to be in |
| such a state of deterioration that its removal from the State House encasements is necessary for its |
| continued existence. |
| (c) The department of administration is directed to study the condition of the State House |
| historic battle flags and markers, the encasements in which they are housed and their method of |
| display to ensure their continued survival while permitting, to the extent possible, continued |
| public display of these historic artifacts. In conducting such study, the department shall seek input |
| and guidance from persons with expertise in historic preservation, textile conservation, veterans' |
| affairs and military history, as well as from members of the public. The department shall prepare |
| a comprehensive set of recommendations for the conservation and display of these battle flags |
| and markers. The department shall present its findings and recommendations to the governor, the |
| speaker of the house, and the president of the senate not later than January 1, 2017. |
| (d) The department is authorized to apply for and accept public or private funds to carry |
| out this study and for the continued preservation and display of these battle flags and markers. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002901 |
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