79R5690 KEG-D

By:  Gallego                                                      H.B. No. 1977



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a Star of Texas license plate and the 
presentation of Star of Texas awards for all 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.  Section 3105.002(a), Government Code, as added 
by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 
2003, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award shall [may] be 
awarded to each [a] peace officer who is seriously injured in the 
line of duty and [or] the surviving next of kin of each [a] peace 
officer who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of 
duty.
	SECTION 2.  Section 3105.003(a), Government Code, as added 
by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 
2003, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The Firefighters' Star of Texas Award shall [may] be 
awarded to each [a] firefighter who is seriously injured in the line 
of duty and [or] the surviving next of kin of each [a] firefighter 
who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.
	SECTION 3.  Section 3105.004(a), Government Code, as added 
by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 
2003, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas 
Award shall [may] be awarded to each [an] emergency medical first 
responder who is seriously injured in the line of duty and [or] the 
surviving next of kin of each [an] emergency medical first 
responder who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of 
duty.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter E, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 504.414 to read as follows:
	Sec. 504.414.  STAR OF TEXAS AWARD RECIPIENTS.  (a)  The 
department shall issue specialty license plates for any person who 
is the recipient of a Star of Texas Award under Chapter 3105, 
Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.  The license plates shall 
include the words "Star of Texas Award Recipient" and a depiction of 
the award issued to the recipient.  The department shall design the 
license plates in consultation with the members of the advisory 
committees created under Chapter 3105, Government Code, as added by 
Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.
	(b)  The fee for the license plates is $30.                             
	(c)  After deduction of $8 to reimburse the department for 
its administrative costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of 
the license plates shall be deposited to the credit of the Star of 
Texas Awards account in the general revenue fund.  Money in the 
account may be used only by the office of the governor for the 
purpose of purchasing awards to be presented under Section 
3105.006, Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, and administering the 
presentation of the awards.
	SECTION 5.  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, 2005.