SRC-JXG S.B. 1457 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1457 76R8822 MXM-DBy: West Administration 3/30/1999 As Filed 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 would designate the month of July as the official Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month. PURPOSE As proposed, 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.