By Najera                                             H.B. No. 3425
         76R8424 MCK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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 a
1-16     person who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor if the
1-17     person:
1-18                 (1)  currently resides in the state; and
1-19                 (2)  resided in the state at the time the person
1-20     entered military service.
1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
 2-3                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
 2-4           Amend H.B. 3425 by:  striking the word "a" on line 15
 2-5     following the word "to" and replacing it with the word "any";
 2-6     striking the words "if the person" on lines 16 and 17 following the
 2-7     word "Honor"; and striking lines 18 through 20.
 2-8                                                                  Hunter