HBA-EVB C.S.S.B. 643 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 643 By: Truan State, Federal, & International Relations 5/5/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the criteria and guidelines used to grant military awards are specified in the Government Code. C.S.S.B. 643 changes the service requirement for the Federal Service Medal from nine months to 90 days. This bill also sets forth requirements for the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority previously delegated to the adjutant general is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 431.134, Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 431.134, Government Code, by amending Subdivisions (2) and (5) and adding Subdivision (7), as follows: (2) Requires the Federal Service Medal to be awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the state military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days, rather than nine months. (5) Makes a conforming change. (7) Requires the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal to be awarded to a person who does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal; is a member of the state military forces; and while serving under state active duty orders, participates satisfactorily in the accomplishment of missions to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute differs from the original in SECTION 1 (Section 431.134, Government Code), by reinstating the conditions for awarding the Texas Faithful Service Medal, Federal Service Medal, Texas Medal of Merit, Texas Outstanding Service Medal, Texas State Guard Service Medal, and Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal in the existing law, which were deleted by the original. The substitute differs from existing law in Subdivision 431.134(2), by requiring the Federal Service Medal to be awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the state military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days, rather than nine months. The original deleted the conditions for award of the Federal Service Medal. The substitute differs from the original in proposed Subdivision 431.134(7), by adding requirements for the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which is to be awarded to a person who does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal; is a member of the state military forces; and while serving under state active duty orders, participates satisfactorily in the accomplishment of missions to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest.