1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the recognition of certain symbols of the State of
1-3 Texas and to the designation of State and Texas Anniversary
1-4 Remembrance Day.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subsection (d), Article 6139a, Revised Statutes,
1-7 is amended to read as follows:
1-8 (d) The red and blue colors of the state flag are the same
1-9 colors used in the United States flag and are defined as numbers
1-10 193 [80108] (red) and 281 [80075] (dark blue) of the Pantone
1-11 Matching System [The Standard Color Reference of America, 10th
1-12 edition].
1-13 SECTION 2. Sections 3(d) and (s), Article 6139c, Revised
1-14 Statutes, are amended to read as follows:
1-15 (d) The state flag should be displayed on all state and
1-16 national holidays and on special occasions of historical
1-17 significance. Texas Flag Day shall be celebrated on March 2, Texas
1-18 Independence Day.
1-19 (s) The state flag, when flown at half-staff, should be
1-20 first hoisted to the peak of the flagpole for an instant and then
1-21 lowered to the half-staff position. The state flag should be again
1-22 raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial
1-23 Day the state flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon
1-24 only, then raised to the peak of the flagpole. The state flag
2-1 should be displayed at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day
2-2 (May 15), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. By order of
2-3 the governor, the state flag shall be flown at half-staff on the
2-4 death of an individual as a mark of respect to the individual's
2-5 memory.
2-6 SECTION 3. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
2-7 Article 6139g to read as follows:
2-8 Art. 6139g. STATE MOTTO. The state motto is "Friendship."
2-9 SECTION 4. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
2-10 Article 6139h to read as follows:
2-11 Art. 6139h. STATE BIRD. The state bird is the mockingbird.
2-12 SECTION 5. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
2-13 Article 6139i to read as follows:
2-14 Art. 6139i. STATE FLOWER. The state flower is the
2-15 bluebonnet.
2-16 SECTION 6. Article 6143, Revised Statutes, is renumbered and
2-17 amended to read as follows:
2-18 Art. 6139j [6143]. STATE TREE. The state tree is the pecan
2-19 tree [Pecan Tree shall be the State tree of Texas and it shall be
2-20 the duty of the State Board of Control and the State Parks Board to
2-21 give due consideration to the Pecan Tree when planning
2-22 beautification of State Parks or other public property belonging to
2-23 the State].
2-24 SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 662, Government Code, is
2-25 amended by adding Section 662.050 to read as follows:
2-26 Sec. 662.050. STATE OF TEXAS ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE DAY
2-27 (STAR DAY). (a) February 19 is State of Texas Anniversary
3-1 Remembrance Day (STAR Day) in honor of Texas joining the Union and
3-2 the day that James Pinckney Henderson became the first governor of
3-3 the State of Texas in 1846.
3-4 (b) State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day (STAR Day)
3-5 shall be regularly observed by appropriate and patriotic programs
3-6 in the public schools and other places to properly commemorate the
3-7 annexation of this state and to inspire a greater appreciation for
3-8 the history of this state.
3-9 SECTION 8. It is the intent of the legislature that the
3-10 General Services Commission, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and
3-11 other state agencies continue to give due consideration to the
3-12 state tree and the state flower when planning beautification of
3-13 state parks or other public property.
3-14 SECTION 9. The importance of this legislation and the
3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2997 was passed by the House on May
11, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2997 on May 27, 1999, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2997 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 19, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor