SCT H.B. 2883 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS STATE FEDERAL & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS H.B. 2883 By: Hunter 4-21-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Texas State Cemetery was established to honor Texans who have made a contribution to the history of this state. This list includes all those officials elected or appointed to service in the state government. However, there is a limited number of Texans who have made significant contributions to Texas history through service in the federal government and yet are not approved by statute for burial in the state cemetery. This list of notable Texans includes persons who served in executive, legislative, and judicial positions of honor. This bill would specify by statute that those individuals who have made Texas history through service in federal offices of honor would be eligible for burial in the state cemetery. According to the terms of the proposed legislation, the additional persons eligible for burial should be small in number. PURPOSE The purpose of this legislation is to extend burial rights in the state cemetery to individuals who have served the state through certain service as a certain elected or appointed federal official. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1. Amends section 2165.256, Government Code. Adds subsection K, adding several categories of federal officers, and their families to the list of state officials who would be eligible for burial in the Texas State Cemetery. The additions include: former or current US legislators who were elected by the state of Texas; former or current US presidents or vice presidents who resided in this state at the time of election; former or current presidential cabinet appointees who were born in and resided in this state when appointed; former and current US Supreme Court justices who were born in and resided in this state when appointed; and, former presidential electors who were elected or appointed to represent this state. Section 2. Sets September 1, 1997 as the date the Act will take effect. Section 3. Emergency Clause.