BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1968

By: Zaffirini

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest that the law relating to the state flag is in need of an update, particularly with regard to military salutes made by veterans and members of the military who are not in uniform at patriotic ceremonies. S.B. 1968 seeks to provide for that update.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1968 amends the Government Code to authorize a member of the armed forces or a veteran who is not in uniform but present during the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the state flag or if the flag is passing in a parade or in review to make the military salute. The bill authorizes a member of the armed forces or a veteran who is not in uniform but present during the recitation of the pledge to the state flag to make the military salute and recite the pledge. The bill authorizes a member of the armed forces or a veteran who is not in uniform but present during a retirement ceremony for a state flag to make the military salute at the appropriate time as designated by the ceremony and replaces the reference to the space station at Houston with a reference to the Johnson Space Center in Houston in the official retirement ceremony for the state flag. The bill authorizes a member of the armed forces or a veteran who is not in uniform but present during the performance of the state song to make the military salute at the first note of the state song and retain that position until the last note.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.