If enacted, the bill would amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and create a new article dedicated to the memorialization of COVID-19 victims. The digital monument will be created and maintained by the Capitol Art Standards Commission with the approval of a designated committee from the General Assembly. This act would introduce a new state-sanctioned memorial process that emphasizes the importance of remembering lives lost to the pandemic, contributing to a shared communal grief and historical record.
Summary
House Bill 24, known as the 'Georgia Remember My Life Act,' proposes the establishment of a digital monument at the Georgia State Capitol to memorialize individuals from Georgia who have died due to COVID-19. The bill aims to create a permanent and visible acknowledgment of the impact of the pandemic on the state’s population, allowing family members of the deceased to submit names for inclusion on the digital monument. This initiative reflects a broader effort to recognize the losses endured during the pandemic and honor those affected.
Contention
A notable point of contention surrounding HB 24 is its provision that no public funds will be used for the establishment or maintenance of the monument. Instead, funding will come from private donations, which raises discussions about the reliance on private philanthropy for public memorials. While supporters argue that this approach ensures that the monument does not burden the state budget, critics might express concerns about the implications of privatizing memorial funds and the potential influence of donors in the memorialization process. This provision could bring about debates regarding the values reflected in such memorials.
Relating to the removal, relocation, alteration, or construction of certain monuments or memorials located on public property; authorizing a civil penalty.