By Hunter, Van de Putte H.B. No. 686
75R61(1) MCK
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the designation and use of certain symbols of the State
1-3 of Texas.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Article 6139b, Revised Statutes,
1-6 is amended to read as follows:
1-7 (b) The pledge of allegiance to the state flag should be
1-8 rendered by all present except those in uniform by standing at
1-9 attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
1-10 Individuals who are not in uniform and who are wearing a headdress
1-11 that is easily removeable should remove their headdress with their
1-12 right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, with the hand over the
1-13 heart. Individuals in uniform should remain silent, face the flag,
1-14 and render the military salute. Individuals who are not citizens
1-15 of this state should remain silent and stand at attention.
1-16 SECTION 2. Article 6139d, Revised Statutes, is amended to
1-17 read as follows:
1-18 Art. 6139d. FLAG OF THE GOVERNOR. (a) The flag of the
1-19 governor is the 1839 pilot flag of the Republic of Texas.
1-20 (b) The flag of the governor consists of a rectangle with a
1-21 width-to-length ratio of two to three containing:
1-22 (1) one white horizontal stripe and one red horizontal
1-23 stripe, each constituting one-fourth of the entire width of the
1-24 flag, and one blue horizontal stripe constituting one-half the
2-1 entire width of the flag, arranged with white at the top, blue in
2-2 the middle, and red at the bottom; and
2-3 (2) a white, regular five-pointed star in the center
2-4 of the blue stripe, oriented so that one point of the star points
2-5 directly upward, and of a size that the diameter of a circle
2-6 passing through the five points of the star is equal to
2-7 three-fourths of the width of the blue stripe.
2-8 (c) The red and blue colors of the flag of the governor are
2-9 the same colors used in the state flag.
2-10 (d) When displayed permanently mounted on a staff, as for
2-11 indoor or parade use, the flag of the governor may be decorated
2-12 with gold fringe and the staff may be decorated with gold cords and
2-13 tassels.
2-14 (e) When the flag of the governor is displayed on a staff,
2-15 the staff should be at least 2-1/2 times as long as the flag's
2-16 hoist, and the flag should be attached to the staff's peak. The
2-17 staff's finial should be either a lone star or a spearhead.
2-18 (f) The governor may prescribe any changes relating to the
2-19 description or display of the flag of the governor that the
2-20 governor considers appropriate. [The governor may adopt a flag for
2-21 the governor's official use.] The governor shall set forth any
2-22 changes [the description of the flag] in an executive order
2-23 published in the Texas Register.
2-24 SECTION 3. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
2-25 Article 6139g to read as follows:
2-26 Art. 6139g. STATE MOTTO. The state motto is "Friendship."
2-27 SECTION 4. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
3-1 Article 6139h to read as follows:
3-2 Art. 6139h. STATE BIRD. The state bird is the mockingbird.
3-3 SECTION 5. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
3-4 Article 6139i to read as follows:
3-5 Art. 6139i. STATE FLOWER. The state flower is the
3-6 bluebonnet.
3-7 SECTION 6. Article 6143, Revised Statutes, is renumbered and
3-8 amended to read as follows:
3-9 Art. 6139j [6143]. STATE TREE. The state tree is the pecan
3-10 tree [Pecan Tree shall be the State tree of Texas and it shall be
3-11 the duty of the State Board of Control and the State Parks Board
3-12 to give due consideration to the Pecan Tree when planning
3-13 beautification of State Parks or other public property belonging to
3-14 the State].
3-15 SECTION 7. It is the intent of the legislature that the
3-16 General Services Commission, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and
3-17 other state agencies continue to give due consideration to the
3-18 state tree when planning beautification of state parks or other
3-19 public property.
3-20 SECTION 8. The importance of this legislation and the
3-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.