1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to eligibility for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 431.131, Government Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 431.131.  TEXAS LEGISLATIVE MEDAL OF HONOR.  (a)  The
 1-7     Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a member of
 1-8     the state military forces who voluntarily performs a deed of
 1-9     personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is
1-10     so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the person for gallantry
1-11     and intrepidity above the person's comrades.  Awarding of the medal
1-12     shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.  The
1-13     medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of
1-14     the deed.
1-15           (b)  The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor may be awarded to
1-16     any person who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-22     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. 3425 was passed by the House on May
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3425 was passed by the Senate on May
         26, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor