SRC-JXG S.B. 1457 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1457
By: West
Administration
6/30/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

In 1866, the United States Congress passed legislation to authorize the
formation of six regiments of black soldiers, many of whom were former
slaves. This legislation passed one year after the end of the Civil War.
These soldiers were known as Buffalo Soldiers, a phrase originally
attributed to Native Americans. Buffalo Soldiers served with distinction
from 1866 to 1892. In 1990, a youth reading club named Soldiers in Blue was
started in Abilene in memory of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers. Thereafter, the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department became the director of the Buffalo
Soldiers Program (program), and added their support for activities in the
Abilene area. The program has evolved into a statewide history program
which reaches more than 200,000 children and adults annually. More than 200
volunteer re-enactors have partnered with numerous local groups to share
the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and to generate interest in the history
of local communities. The program has also evolved into a multi-cultural
educational program encompassing the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, the
shared heritage of vaqueros, black cowboys, Native Americans, frontier
women, and other cultural groups in Texas during the 1880s. 1999 will mark
the fourth anniversary of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Capitol Salute, in
which the youth and adults involved in the program gather at the Capitol to
recognize their accomplishments. S.B. 1457 will designate the month of July
as the official Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1457 designates the month of July as the official Buffalo
Soldiers Heritage Month. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends chapter heading to Chapter 662, Government Code, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 662. HOLIDAYS AND RECOGNITION DAYS AND MONTHS

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 662, Government Code, by adding Subchapter D, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER D. RECOGNITION MONTHS

Sec. 662.101. BUFFALO SOLDIERS HERITAGE MONTH. Provides that July is
Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month in honor of the bravery and dedication of
Texas' Buffalo Soldiers and in recognition of their contribution to the
legendary history of the Lone Star State. Requires Buffalo Soldiers
Heritage Month to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies and
activities.   

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.