AL HB31

Creates the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act of 2015 to prohibit relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of commemorative statues, monuments, memorials, plaques, and historically significant grave sites on public property.

Requires entities seeking to alter protected objects to petition the Alabama Legislative Council for a waiver through a deliberative process including two public hearings, eight weeks of newspaper and on-site signage notice, and certification by the Alabama Historical Commission.

Authorizes the Alabama Legislative Council to grant waivers with reasonable conditions to preserve objects to the greatest extent possible and to deny waiver petitions.

Imposes a $100,000 fine per violation on governmental entities that remove objects of remembrance without obtaining a waiver, with fines collected by the Attorney General and deposited into the State General Fund.

Exempts museum collections, art, and artifacts; State Department of Transportation projects affecting public transportation; and county, municipal, or university projects affecting public transportation systems, though these entities must strive to preserve such objects when possible.