State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would strengthen the punishment for people convicted of stealing or defacing veteran monuments.
The proposal was introduced by several state representatives and senators through the Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.
The committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Criminal penalties for vandalism or theft are tied to the monetary value of the monument. Rep. Len Greene, in a statement, said he wants to increase those penalties across the board, regardless of the cost of the monument, to better reflect the true value of such a memorial.
Under current law, any person who damages veterans’ memorials shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. But when the property damage exceeds $1,000, it becomes a class D felony.
The bill (click here to see a copy) would double the current fine and would require full restitution for the cost of repairs or replacement of the damaged war or veterans’ memorials or monuments.
Memorial plaques were stolen from three Valley towns last year — apparently to scrap the bronze for cash.
The theft of the plaques outraged many residents.
The Valley Community Foundation is currently accepting donations to help replace some of the stolen plaques.
Public Hearing Details
Those who sponsored the bill were:
State Senator State Senator Joseph Crisco
State Rep. Linda Gentile
State Senator Kevin Kelly
Rep. Len Greene
Rep. Christopher Davis
Rep. Jason Perillo
Rep. Tony D’Amelio
Rep. Themis Klarides
Rep. Larry Miller
The Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will discuss the proposed bill during a public hearing scheduled for:
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
12:00 PM in Room 2A
Legislative Office Building
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT