BILL ANALYSIS
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 3077 establishes and promotes a nationally recognized flag that will fly as a visible reminder to all Americans of the lives lost in defense of national freedoms. The Honor and Remember Flag signifies all military lives lost not only in action but also in service, from the nation's inception.
The Honor and Remember Flag recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by members of the United States military in service to the nation. H.B. 3077 directs each state office building to fly the Honor and Remember Flag on certain days.
Proponents of the Honor and Remember Flag have been successful in promoting broad national awareness of and groundswell interest in the flag so that military, government, and educational facilities as well as households throughout the country will begin flying the Honor and Remember Flag in recognition of the nation's fallen warriors.
Currently, 14 states have adopted the Honor and Remember Flag as their state symbol of rememberance.
H.B. 3077 amends current law relating to display of the Honor and Remember flag.
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 Subchapter A, Chapter 2165, Government Code, by adding Section 2165.0065, as follows:
Sec. 2165.0065. DISPLAY OF HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG. (a) Defines, in this section, "Honor and Remember flag."
(b) Requires that the Honor and Remember flag be displayed at each state office building, at the State Cemetery under Section 2165.256 (State Cemetery and Other Burial Grounds), and at each veterans cemetery managed by the Veterans' Land Board on:
(1) the third Saturday in May, "Armed Forces Day";
(2) the last Monday in May, "Memorial Day";
(3) the 14th day of June, "Flag Day";
(4) the fourth day of July, "Independence Day";
(5) the 11th day of November, "Veterans Day";
(6) "National POW/MIA Recognition Day";
(7) the last Sunday in September, "Gold Star Mother's Day"; and
(8) any date on which a resident of this state is killed while serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
(c) Requires a facility's staff, if that facility is subject to Subsection (b) and if the facility will not have staff available to display the Honor and Remember flag on the day provided by Subsection (b), to display the flag on the last preceding day the staff is available and leave the flag on display on the day provided by Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. Provides that the Honor and Remember flag is designated as the symbol of our state's concern and commitment to honoring and remembering the lives of all members of the United States armed forces who have lost their lives while serving or as a result of service and their families.
SECTION 3. Provides that the Honor and Remember flag's red field represents the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom, and the flag's white border recognizes the purity of that sacrifice. Provides that the flag's blue star is a symbol of active service in military conflict that dates back to World War I. Provides that the flag's gold star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who is not returning home and reflects the value of the life given, the folded flag element highlights this nation's final tribute to a fallen service member and a family's sacrifice, and the flag's flame symbolizes the eternal spirit of the departed.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.