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.