H.B. No. 1937
AN ACT
relating to designating September 11 as Texas First Responders Day
and creating star of Texas awards for peace officers, firefighters,
and emergency medical first responders who are killed or sustain
serious or fatal injuries in the line of duty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 662, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 662.050 to read as follows:
Sec. 662.050. TEXAS FIRST RESPONDERS DAY. (a) September 11
is Texas First Responders Day in honor of the bravery, courage, and
determination of Texas men and women who assist others in
emergencies.
(b) Texas First Responders Day shall be regularly observed
by appropriate ceremonies in the public schools and other places to
honor Texas first responders. Each governmental entity may
determine the appropriate ceremonies by which Texas observes Texas
First Responders Day.
SECTION 2. Subtitle A, Title 11, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 3105 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 3105. STAR OF TEXAS AWARDS
Sec. 3105.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Emergency medical first responder" means an
employee or volunteer of the state, a political subdivision, or an
emergency medical services provider who provides urgent on-site
medical care to the sick or injured.
(2) "Firefighter" includes a volunteer firefighter.
(3) "Peace officer" means a peace officer commissioned
by the state or a political subdivision of the state under Article
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law.
Sec. 3105.002. PEACE OFFICERS' STAR OF TEXAS AWARD.
(a) The Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award may be awarded to a
peace officer who is seriously injured in the line of duty or the
surviving next of kin of a peace officer who is killed or sustains a
fatal injury in the line of duty.
(b) The Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award Advisory
Committee shall advise the governor on the issuance, design, and
presentation of the Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award.
(c) The committee consists of three current or retired peace
officers appointed by the governor who have each served with
distinction during a lengthy career as a peace officer.
Sec. 3105.003. FIREFIGHTERS' STAR OF TEXAS AWARD. (a) The
Firefighters' Star of Texas Award may be awarded to a firefighter
who is seriously injured in the line of duty or the surviving next
of kin of a firefighter who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in
the line of duty.
(b) The Firefighters' Star of Texas Award Advisory
Committee shall advise the governor on the issuance, design, and
presentation of the Firefighters' Star of Texas Award.
(c) The committee consists of three current or retired
firefighters appointed by the governor who have each served with
distinction during a lengthy career as a firefighter.
Sec. 3105.004. EMERGENCY MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDERS' STAR OF
TEXAS AWARD. (a) The Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of
Texas Award may be awarded to an emergency medical first responder
who is seriously injured in the line of duty or the surviving next
of kin of an emergency medical first responder who is killed or
sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.
(b) The Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas
Award Advisory Committee shall advise the governor on the issuance,
design, and presentation of the Emergency Medical First Responders'
Star of Texas Award.
(c) The committee consists of three current or retired
emergency medical first responders appointed by the governor who
have each served with distinction during a lengthy career as an
emergency medical first responder.
Sec. 3105.005. GENERAL MATTERS AFFECTING ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. (a) Each member of an advisory committee created under
this chapter serves at the will of the governor.
(b) The governor shall designate the presiding officer of
each advisory committee.
(c) Each advisory committee shall meet once annually at the
call of the governor or the presiding officer of the committee not
later than three weeks before September 11, and at a location deemed
appropriate by the governor or the governor's representative.
(d) A member of an advisory committee may not receive
compensation for service on the committee or reimbursement for
travel expenses incurred while conducting the business of the
committee.
(e) An advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110.
Sec. 3105.006. PRESENTATION; AWARD. (a) The governor or
the governor's representative shall present in the name of the
state a star of Texas award under this chapter to the appropriate
recipient or surviving next of kin during a public ceremony held on,
or as near as practicable to, September 11 of each year.
(b) At a minimum, the award shall consist of a medal, a
certificate, and a ribbon suitable for wearing on a uniform.
Sec. 3105.007. RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD. Any person who
has personal knowledge that a peace officer, firefighter, or
emergency medical first responder has been killed or seriously
injured in the line of duty may submit that information in writing
to a committee under this chapter.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1937 was passed by the House on April
25, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1937 on May 22, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1937 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor