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AN ACT
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relating to "Welcome to Texas" signs on highways entering Texas and |
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to the placement of Texas flags at international ports-of-entry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 201.617, Transportation Code, as added |
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by Chapter 474 (H.B. 137), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2005, is repealed. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter O, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.979 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.979. "WELCOME TO TEXAS" SIGNS. (a) The |
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department shall erect a "Welcome to Texas" sign to designate the |
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state boundary on an interstate, United States, or state highway |
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entering the state. |
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(b) A "Welcome to Texas" sign erected by the department must |
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include the following elements: |
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(1) a depiction of the state flag; and |
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(2) the phrase "Drive Friendly - The Texas Way." |
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(c) A "Welcome to Texas" sign may also include the phrase |
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"Welcome to Texas - Proud Home of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, |
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George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush." |
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(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c) above, if the president |
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of the United States is a resident of Texas, a "Welcome to Texas" |
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sign erected by the department shall include the phrase "Welcome to |
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Texas - Proud Home of President [insert name of the president of the |
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United States]." |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter O, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.980 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.980. TEXAS FLAGS AT INTERNATIONAL PORTS-OF-ENTRY. |
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(a) The department shall erect and maintain a Texas flag to |
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designate the state boundary at an appropriate location at or near |
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each interstate, United States, or state highway originating at an |
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official port-of-entry along an international border. |
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(b) A Texas flag flown under this section shall be visible |
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from the international port-of-entry and must be equal in size or |
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larger than the flag of any foreign nation flown at the |
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port-of-entry operating on the other side of the international |
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border. |
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(c) The department may contract with any governmental or |
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private entity for the care and maintenance of any Texas flag flown |
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under this section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2010. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 4465 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 4465 was passed by the Senate on May |
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26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |