SRC-JBJ S.B. 1211 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1211
77R3373 ATP-DBy: Whitmire
State Affairs
4/3/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the family of a deceased veteran is presented with a United
States flag by an honor guard, upon request, but under Texas law there are
no provisions for the presentation of the state flag to the family of a
deceased peace officer or retired peace officer.  As proposed, S.B. 1211
provides for the presentation of the state flag to the families of deceased
or retired peace officers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 615E, Government Code, by adding Section
615.105, as follows: 

Sec. 615.105.  PRESENTATION OF STATE FLAG.  (a)  Sets forth provisions
regarding the application of this section. 

(b)  Requires the state, on the death of an individual listed in Subsection
(a), regardless of whether the individual died in the course of duty as a
peace officer, to provide, at no cost, to the individual's next of kin the
state flag and a letter expressing gratitude on behalf of the people of the
state for the officer's service as a peace officer. 

(c)  Requires that the state flag be presented to the individual's next of
kin by certain persons. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 651I, Occupations Code, by adding Section
651.408, as follows: 

Sec. 651.408.  NOTICE OF DECEASED PEACE OFFICER.  Requires a funeral
director to make reasonable efforts to determine whether a deceased person
being prepared by the funeral director for burial or other disposition was
a peace officer.  Requires the funeral director, if the deceased person is
known or suspected by the funeral director to have been a peace officer, to
take certain enumerated actions.  

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.