| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 2135 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | relating to a monument dedicated to members of the armed forces from |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | this state who died in combat. |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Section 2165.2561, Government Code, is amended |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | by adding Subsection (v) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | (v) The State Cemetery Committee shall erect a flagpole and |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | an appropriate monument in the military monument area of the State |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Cemetery dedicated to military personnel from the state who are |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | killed while serving in a combat zone. When the committee is |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | notified by the Texas Veterans Commission that a member of the |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | United States armed forces from the state was killed while serving |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | in a combat zone, the committee shall ensure that the flag at the |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | monument is displayed at half-staff for an appropriate period as a |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | mark of respect to the memory of the deceased member of the armed |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | forces. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | amended by adding Section 434.020 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | Sec. 434.020. NOTICE TO STATE CEMETERY COMMITTEE OF |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | SERVICEMEMBER'S DEATH. The Texas Veterans Commission shall notify |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | the State Cemetery Committee as soon as practicable after the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | commission receives notice of the death of a member of the United |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | States armed forces from the state who is killed while serving in a |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | combat zone. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 3. The State Cemetery Committee shall consult with |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | the standing committees of each house of the legislature with |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | jurisdiction over military and veterans matters in planning the |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | monument required under Subsection (v), Section 2165.2561, |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | Government Code, as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2135 passed the Senate on |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | April 30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | Secretary of the Senate |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2135 passed the House on |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, one |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | present not voting. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | Approved: |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | Date |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Governor |
|---|