Amend HJR 127 (Senate committee printing) as follows:                        
	(1)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the 
joint resolution and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the joint 
resolution as appropriate:
	SECTION ____.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended 
by adding Section 49-b-1 to read as follows:
	Sec. 49-b-1.  BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS OF TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD 
MEMBERS.  (a)  In this section:
		(1)  "Heirs" means those persons, including the 
surviving spouse, who are entitled under the statutes of descent 
and distribution to the estate of a decedent who dies intestate.
		(2)  "Eligible survivor" means a person designated as a 
beneficiary on the deceased individual's group life insurance 
program under 38 U.S.C. Section 1965 et seq.
	(b)  This section applies only to a member of the Texas 
National Guard who died after September 11, 2001, while:
		(1)  on federal active duty under Title 10, United 
States Code; or   
		(2)  serving in a named military operation on active 
duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United 
States Code.
	(c)  The adjutant general's department or another agency 
designated by the legislature may pay $250,000 to:
		(1)  the eligible survivor of an individual described 
by Subsection (b) or the appropriate pro rata portion of that amount 
to the eligible survivors of the individual; or
		(2)  the heirs of an individual described by Subsection 
(b) if there are no eligible survivors of that individual.
	(d)  An eligible survivor or heir must apply for benefits in 
accordance with rules adopted under this section.
	(e)  The benefit provided under this section is in addition 
to any other benefit provided under state or federal law.
	(f)  The state agency administering the benefits provided by 
this section shall adopt rules to administer this section, 
including rules and procedures for making and proving a claim, 
appealing decisions, and receiving benefits under this section.
	(2)  Strike Section 2 of the joint resolution (page 1, lines 
42-47), and substitute the following:
	SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or 
enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or 
military force to hold other civil offices and to provide a death 
benefit to the survivors or heirs of certain members of the Texas 
National Guard."