BILL ANALYSIS
By: Miller
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, monuments or memorials located on state property may be removed, relocated or altered only by the legislature, Texas Historical Commission, or State Preservation Board if they honor a citizen from Texas for military or war-related service. Committee Substitute, House Bill 946 expands the current statute to protect a monument or memorial on state property that honors a citizen of the United States, a former citizen of the United States, or a person from a state, territory, or nation that is now part of the United States. House Bill 946 ensures that monuments of people such as Stephen F. Austin, Cesar Chavez, or Martin Luther King, Jr. are protected.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
Amends Tex. Gov't Code, Section 2166.5011(a), to protect monuments or memorials located on state property that honor citizens of the United States, former citizens of the United States, or persons from a state, territory, or nation that is now part of the United States. Deletes the phrase "for war or military-related service."
EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately upon passage or September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 946 expands the definition of "monument or memorial" further than the introduced version by eliminating "for war or military-related service" and expanding on "citizen of the United States" by including former citizens of the United States, or persons from a state, territory, or nation that is now a part of the United States.