By: Lucio  S.B. No. 2135
         (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2009; March 31, 2009, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
  Military Installations; April 17, 2009, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 17, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a monument dedicated to members of the armed forces from
  this state who died in combat.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2165.2561, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (v) to read as follows:
         (v)  The State Cemetery Committee shall 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. When the committee is
  notified by the Texas Veterans Commission that a member of the
  United States armed forces from the state was killed while serving
  in a combat zone, the committee shall 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.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.020 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.020.  NOTICE TO STATE CEMETERY COMMITTEE OF
  SERVICEMEMBER'S DEATH. The Texas Veterans Commission shall notify
  the State Cemetery Committee as soon as practicable after the
  commission 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.  The State Cemetery Committee shall consult with
  the standing committees of each house of the legislature with
  jurisdiction over military and veterans matters in planning the
  monument required under Subsection (v), Section 2165.2561,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2009.
 
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