§ 19-5-1125 — Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund - Definitions

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Memorial area" means the designated area of the State Capitol grounds for use in remembrance and honoring a person or group of persons; and (2) "Monument" means a statue, display, or other artful fixture that is constructed to be attached to a memorial area. (b) (1) There is created on the books of the Treasurer of State, the Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State a fund to be known as the "Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund". (2) The Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund shall consist of funds made available from: (A) Private donations received by the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission; (B) Fees paid by sponsors of the monuments and memorial areas under subsection (c) of this section; (C) Additional moneys appropriated to the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund by the General Assembly; and (D) Accrued interest from the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund. (3) The Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund shall be used for the maintenance, repair, alteration, additions, reconstruction, or upkeep of any kind of any monument or memorial area on the State Capitol grounds. (c) (1) (A) Except as provided under subdivision (c)(1)(B) of this section, following the enactment of an act authorizing the memorial area or monument and before construction begins, a group or organization that sponsors and pays the cost of the construction or replacement of a memorial area or monument on the State Capitol grounds shall pay to the Secretary of State a fee for placement of the monument or memorial area of: (i) Ten percent (10%) of the cost of the monument; and (ii) Ten percent (10%) of the construction cost of the memorial area. (B) The Secretary of State may allow the beginning of construction of a memorial area on State Capitol grounds if: (i) A dedicated funding source has been established for the purpose of payment of the fees under this subsection; and (ii) The organization demonstrates that substantial funds have been raised to complete the project. (2) The amount of the fee may be reviewed by the commission as to how the fee under this subsection was calculated by the Secretary of State. (d) (1) All moneys deposited into the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund and any accrued interest shall remain in the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund. (2) The Secretary of State shall administer the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund. (e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(2) of this section, the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund shall be used for the maintenance, repair, alteration, additions, reconstruction, or upkeep of any kind for any monument or memorial area on the State Capitol grounds. (2) Before the expenditure of any moneys from the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund for the maintenance, repair, alteration, addition, reconstruction, or upkeep of any kind for a specific monument or memorial areas on State Capitol grounds, if there is a fund dedicated to that specific monument or memorial, the Secretary of State shall utilize the gifts, grants, and donations made to the following funds for the maintenance, repair, alteration, addition, reconstruction, or upkeep of that specific monument or memorial: (A) Vietnam Veterans' Monument Fund; (B) Arkansas Military War Veterans Monument Fund; (C) Ten Commandments Monument Display Act under § 22-3-221 ; (D) Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Fund; and (E) Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Board under § 22-3-1704 .

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 362,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023. Acts 2003 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 55, § 18; 2005, No. 1962, § 83; 2011, No. 860, § 1.