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2005 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 817
Supporting the establishment of a memorial commission to pay tribute to Virginia's first responders killed in the line of duty. Report.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 26, 2005
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2005

 

WHEREAS, the Department of General Services is charged with the responsibility of acquiring real estate for the purpose of establishing state memorials and cultural resources; and

WHEREAS, numerous states have established memorials on or about the grounds of their respective state capitol complexes to honor fallen law-enforcement officers and other first responders; and

WHEREAS, State law defines "first responders" as all law-enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, or other public safety personnel functioning in a role identified by a federal, state, or local response plan; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is one of several states in the country without a state-level memorial honoring first responders who have been killed in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, private funding and government grants are currently being considered and planned by private sources to finance the construction and maintenance of such a memorial, and to sponsor annual memorial events to honor our fallen Virginia first responders; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly support the establishment of a memorial commission to pay tribute to Virginia's first responders killed in the line of duty; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Governor be requested to establish a memorial commission that shall consist of the Governor of Virginia who shall serve as Chairman thereof, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one member of the House of Delegates at-large appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules, and three other members to be appointed by the Governor. The appointing authorities shall appoint the same members to serve on this commission as are appointed to serve on the Governor's commission pursuant to House Joint Resolution No. 790 (2005).

The commission shall study and recommend to the Governor and General Assembly an appropriate memorial in Capitol Square to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of Virginia's first responders. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the commission for this study, upon request.

The commission shall complete its meetings by November 1, 2005, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2006 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That if the General Assembly creates a collegial body or such other entity vested with the authority to operate, maintain, and preserve the Capitol Square, the report of the commission shall be forwarded by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems to the entity for further consideration and action in accordance with its responsibilities and duties.