• By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Feb 9, 2016, 5:06 PM ET

As some southern cities mull taking down the Confederate monuments that dot the Old South, an Alabama legislator wants to stop their ability to do so.

Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa has proposed legislation that would prohibit cities from taking down historic monuments and memorials on public property without obtaining permission from a legislative panel.

The proposal sparked passionate testimony in committee, but a similar bill failed to win approval last year.

The New Orleans City Council in December voted to take down four monuments, including a bronze statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The city of Birmingham has explored removing a Confederate memorial from a downtown park.

Gov. Robert Bentley last year removed four Confederate flags from the Alabama Capitol.

Alabama Bill Could Stop Removal of Confederate Monuments - ABC News