BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 2135

81R14162 MCK-D                                                                                                             By: Lucio

Veteran Affairs & Military Installations

4/15/2009

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

As proposed, S.B. 2135 requires the Texas State Cemetery Committee (TSCC) to erect a flagpole and monument that would honor servicemembers from Texas who are killed while serving in a combat zone.  The bill requires the Texas Veterans Commission to notify TSCC as soon as practicable when a member of the United States Armed Forces from Texas is killed, and requires TSCC to fly the flag at half-staff for a time TSCC deems appropriate.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2165.2561, Government Code, by adding Subsection (v), to require the State Cemetery Committee (TSCC) to erect a flagpole and an appropriate monument in the military monument area of the State Cemetery dedicated to military personnel from the state who are killed while serving in a combat zone.  Requires TSCC, when TSCC is notified by the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) that a member of the United States armed forces from the state was killed while serving in a combat zone, to ensure that the flag at the monument is displayed at half-staff for an appropriate period as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased member of the armed forces.

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, by adding Section 434.020, as follows:

Sec. 434.020.  NOTICE TO STATE CEMETERY COMMITTEE OF SERVICEMEMBER'S DEATH.  Requires TVC to notify TSCC as soon as practicable after TSCC receives notice of the death of a member of the United States armed forces from the state who is killed while serving in a combat zone.

SECTION 3.  Requires TSCC to consult with the standing committees of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over military and veterans matters in planning the monument required under Section 2165.2561(v), Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2009.