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AN ACT
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relating to the state flag code. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 3100.068(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the state |
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flag or if the flag is passing in a parade or in review: |
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(1) each citizen of this state who is present and not |
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in uniform should: |
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(A) face the state flag and stand at attention |
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with the person's right hand over the heart; and |
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(B) if wearing a head covering that is easy to |
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remove, remove the head covering with the right hand and hold it at |
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the person's left shoulder, with the person's hand over the heart; |
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(2) each person who is present and in uniform should |
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make the military salute; [and] |
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(3) each person who is present, not in uniform, and a |
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member of the armed forces or a veteran may make the military |
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salute; and |
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(4) each person who is present but not a citizen of |
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this state should stand at attention. |
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SECTION 2. Section 3100.104, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 3100.104. RECITING PLEDGE. If the pledge to the state |
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flag is recited, each person who is present and: |
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(1) not in uniform should: |
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(A) face the state flag and stand at attention |
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with the person's right hand over the heart; |
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(B) if wearing a head covering that is easy to |
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remove, remove that head covering with the right hand and hold it at |
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the person's left shoulder, with the person's hand over the heart; |
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and |
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(C) recite the pledge; [or] |
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(2) not in uniform and a member of the armed forces or |
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a veteran may make the military salute and recite the pledge; or |
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(3) in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, |
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and make the military salute. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 3100.152(b) and (d), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) During a retirement ceremony: |
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(1) each citizen of this state who is present and not |
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in uniform should: |
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(A) stand at attention with the person's right |
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hand over the heart; and |
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(B) if wearing a head covering that is easy to |
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remove, remove the head covering with the person's right hand and |
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hold it at the person's left shoulder, with the right hand over the |
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heart; |
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(2) each person who is present and in uniform should |
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make the military salute at the appropriate time as designated by |
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the ceremony; [and] |
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(3) each person who is present, not in uniform, and a |
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member of the armed forces or a veteran may make the military salute |
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at the appropriate time as designated by the ceremony; and |
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(4) each person who is present but not a citizen of |
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this state should stand at attention. |
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(d) The official retirement ceremony for the state flag |
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encouraged for public use is: |
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I am your Texas flag! |
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I was born January 25, 1839. |
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I am one of only two flags of an American state that has |
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also served as the symbol of an independent nation--The |
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Republic of Texas. |
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While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I |
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represent will never retire! |
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I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and |
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Tomorrow! |
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I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at |
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San Jacinto. |
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My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers over the Forts |
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Trail of the Big Country and herded cattle through the Fort |
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Worth stockyards. I have sailed up Galveston Bay and kept a |
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watchful eye over our El Paso del Norte. |
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My colors are in the waters of the Red River and in the |
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Bluebonnets of the Texas Hill Country. |
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You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro and |
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in the sands of Padre Island; |
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I am at the Johnson Space Center in [the space station
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at] Houston and atop the oil wells of West Texas. |
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From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of San |
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Antone--all of Texas is my home! |
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I wave over the cotton and grain fields of the High |
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Plains, and I am deep in the rich soil of the Rio Grande |
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Valley. |
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I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I fly |
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high above the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas. |
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You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and |
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along the Grandeur of the Rio Grande. |
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I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man! |
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The blue field in me stands for the valor of our |
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ancestors in the battles for our country. |
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Let us retire the blue--Salute! |
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My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas |
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hearts! It represents the honor that each of us should pay to |
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our state each day. |
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Let us retire the white--Salute! |
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The red is for all of the men and women who have died in |
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service of our state--whether as members of the armed |
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services or as citizen Samaritans. |
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Let us retire the red--Salute! |
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My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide |
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because it represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as |
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one for God, State, and Country. |
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Let us retire the lone star--Salute! |
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Join in the pledge to the Texas flag: |
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"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, |
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Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." |
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SECTION 4. Section 3101.006(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) During the performance of the state song: |
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(1) when the state flag is displayed: |
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(A) each citizen of this state who is present and |
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not in uniform should: |
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(i) face the flag and stand at attention |
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with the person's right hand over the heart; and |
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(ii) if wearing a head covering that is easy |
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to remove, remove the head covering with the right hand and hold it |
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at the person's left shoulder, with the person's right hand over the |
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heart; |
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(B) each person who is present and in uniform |
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should make the military salute at the first note of the state song |
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and retain that position until the last note; [and] |
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(C) each person who is present, not in uniform, |
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and a member of the armed forces or a veteran may make the military |
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salute at the first note of the state song and retain that position |
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until the last note; and |
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(D) each person who is present but not a citizen |
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of this state should stand at attention; and |
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(2) when the state flag is not displayed, each person |
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present should face toward the music and act in the same manner as |
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the person would if the state flag were displayed there. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1968 passed the Senate on |
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April 26, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1968 passed the House on |
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May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |