By Duncan                                              S.B. No. 483
         76R5362 MXM-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to procedures for retirement of the Texas flag.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  The Texas Flag Code (Article 6139c, Revised
 1-5     Statutes) is amended by adding Section 6 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 6.  (a)  A state flag, when it is no longer used or
 1-7     useful as an emblem for display, should be destroyed, preferably by
 1-8     burning, in a ceremony or other dignified way that emphasizes its
 1-9     honor as a fitting emblem for this state.
1-10           (b)  A retirement ceremony for a state flag should be
1-11     conducted with the honor and respect inherent in the traditions of
1-12     this state.   While the state flag may be retired in a private
1-13     ceremony, it is encouraged that a retirement be a public ceremony
1-14     under the direction of uniformed personnel representing a state or
1-15     national military service or a patriotic society.
1-16           (c)  During a retirement ceremony, a person in uniform should
1-17     render the military salute at the appropriate time as designated by
1-18     the  ceremony.  A nonuniformed individual present should stand at
1-19     attention with the right hand over the heart.  When not in uniform,
1-20     an individual who is wearing a headdress that is easily removable
1-21     should remove the headdress with the right hand and hold the
1-22     headdress at the left shoulder, with the right hand over the heart.
1-23     An individual who is not a citizen of this state should stand at
1-24     attention.
 2-1           (d)  In a retirement ceremony in which the flag is to be
 2-2     either burned or buried, the flag may be retired as a whole or the
 2-3     colors of  the flag may be separated for individual dedication,
 2-4     with the separation taking place immediately before the retirement
 2-5     and dedication ceremony.
 2-6           (e)  The official retirement ceremony for the state flag
 2-7     encouraged for public use is:
 2-8           I am your Texas flag!
 2-9           I was born December 10, 1836.
2-10           I am the only flag of an American state that has also
2-11           served as the symbol of an independent nation--The
2-12           Republic of Texas.
2-13           While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I
2-14           represent will never retire!
2-15           I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and
2-16           Tomorrow!
2-17           I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at
2-18           San Jacinto.
2-19           My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers in the streets of
2-20           old El Paso, and herding cattle through the Fort Worth
2-21           stockyards.  I have sailed up Galveston Bay.
2-22           My colors are in the waters of the Red River, and in
2-23           the Bluebonnets of the Texas Hill Country.
2-24           You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro,
2-25           and in the sands of Padre Island;
2-26           I am in the space station at Houston and atop the oil
2-27           wells of West Texas.
 3-1           From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of
 3-2           San Antone--all of Texas is my home!
 3-3           I wave over the cotton and grain field of the High
 3-4           Plains; and I am deep in the rich soil of the Rio
 3-5           Grande Valley.
 3-6           I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I
 3-7           fly high above the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas.
 3-8           You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and
 3-9           along the Grandeur of the Rio Grande.
3-10           I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man!
3-11           The blue field in me stands for the valor of our
3-12           ancestors in the battles for our country.
3-13           Let us retire the blue--Salute!
3-14           My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas
3-15           hearts!  It represents the honor that each of us should
3-16           pay to our state each day.
3-17           Let us retire the white--Salute!
3-18           The red is for all of the men and women who have died
3-19           in service of our state--whether as members of the
3-20           armed services, or as citizen Samaritans.
3-21           Let us retire the red--Salute!
3-22           My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide
3-23           because it represents ALL of Texas and stands for our
3-24           unity as one for God, State, and Country.
3-25           Let us retire the lone star--Salute!
3-26           Join in the pledge to the Texas Flag:
3-27           "Honor the Texas Flag; I Pledge Allegiance to thee,
 4-1           Texas, One and Indivisible."
 4-2           SECTION 2.  Sections 3(ff) and (gg), Texas Flag Code (Article
 4-3     6139c, Revised Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
 4-4           (ff)  [The state flag, when it is in such a condition that it
 4-5     is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a
 4-6     dignified way, preferably by burning.]
 4-7           [(gg)]  During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the state
 4-8     flag or when the state flag is passing in a parade or in review,
 4-9     all individuals present except those in uniform should face the
4-10     state flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the
4-11     heart.  Those present in uniform should render the military salute.
4-12     When not in uniform, individuals who are wearing a headdress that
4-13     is easily removeable should remove their headdress with their right
4-14     hand and hold it at the left shoulder, with the hand over the
4-15     heart.  Individuals who are not citizens of this state should stand
4-16     at attention.  The salute to the state flag in a moving column
4-17     should be rendered at the moment the state flag passes.
4-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
4-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-24     passage, and it is so enacted.