Texas Senate Bill SB1807

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the display of flags at half-staff at state buildings to honor service members killed in action.

Impact

If enacted, SB1807 will amend existing provisions of the Government Code to codify the practice of honoring deceased service members through flag displays. This change is significant as it formalizes the state's commitment to honor military personnel, enhancing the rituals surrounding military deaths and making the observance consistent across state agencies. The ramifications of implementing this bill will affect various government entities tasked with maintaining state properties and their associated protocols for flag displays.

Summary

SB1807 seeks to establish regulations regarding the display of flags at half-staff in Texas state buildings. Specifically, it mandates that the flags of the State of Texas and the United States be flown at half-staff in honor of members of the armed forces who have been killed in action and were residents of Texas. The bill establishes a protocol for notifying state agencies about these observances, specifying that flags should remain at half-staff for one day following the family's notification of the service member's death.

Contention

There may be potential points of contention regarding the bill's provisions, particularly around the timing of flag displays and family notifications. Critics could argue that the requirement to lower flags could lead to confusion or mismanagement, especially if there are complexities in notifying families or if multiple service members are killed in close succession. Notably, the bill's stipulations could require significant coordination across state agencies, which may raise concerns about bureaucratic efficiency and sensitivity in dealing with the families affected by such losses.