BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1977
79R13362 KEG-D By: Gallego (Gallegos)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Enacted by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, H.B. 1937 designated September 11 as Texas First Responders Day and created the Star of Texas Award to be given to peace officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are seriously wounded in the line of duty, or to the surviving families of those who are killed in the line of duty.
H.B. 1977 clarifies that the Star of Texas Award is to be awarded to each peace officer, fire fighter, and EMT who is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 3105.002(a), Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to require, rather than authorize, the Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award to be awarded to each, rather than a, peace officer who is seriously injured in the line of duty and the surviving next of kin of each, rather than a, peace officer who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 3105.003(a) Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to require, rather than authorize, the Firefighters' Star of Texas Award to be awarded to each, rather than a, firefighter who is seriously injured in the line of duty and the surviving next of kin of each, rather than a, firefighter who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 3105.004(a) Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to require, rather than authorize, the Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas Award to be awarded to each, rather than a, emergency medical first responder who is seriously injured in the line of duty and the surviving next of kin of each, rather than a, emergency medical first responder who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.
SECTION 4. (a) Requires the Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.002(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, to be awarded to peace officers who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of officers who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003.
(b) Requires the Firefighters' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.003(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, to be awarded to firefighters who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of firefighters who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003.
(c) Requires the Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.004(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, to be awarded to emergency medical first responders who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of emergency medical first responders who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005 .