H.B. No. 1977




AN ACT
relating to the presentation of Star of Texas awards to peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who are killed or sustain serious or fatal injuries in the line of duty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 3105.002(a), Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows: (a) The Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award shall [may] be awarded to each [a] peace officer who is seriously injured in the line of duty and [or] the surviving next of kin of each [a] peace officer who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty. SECTION 2. Section 3105.003(a), Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows: (a) The Firefighters' Star of Texas Award shall [may] be awarded to each [a] firefighter who is seriously injured in the line of duty and [or] the surviving next of kin of each [a] firefighter who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty. SECTION 3. Section 3105.004(a), Government Code, as added by Chapter 614, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows: (a) The Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas Award shall [may] be awarded to each [an] emergency medical first responder who is seriously injured in the line of duty and [or] the surviving next of kin of each [an] emergency medical first responder who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty. SECTION 4. (a) The Peace Officers' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.002(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, shall be awarded to peace officers who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of officers who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003. (b) The Firefighters' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.003(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, shall be awarded to firefighters who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of firefighters who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003. (c) The Emergency Medical First Responders' Star of Texas Award awarded under Section 3105.004(a), Government Code, as amended by this Act, shall be awarded to emergency medical first responders who are seriously injured, or the surviving next of kin of emergency medical first responders who are killed or sustain a fatal injury, on or after September 1, 2003. SECTION 5. 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, 2005. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1977 was passed by the House on May 9, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 3 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1977 was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor