By: Seliger, Perry S.B. No. 488
(In the Senate - Filed February 9, 2015; February 10, 2015,
read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
Military Installations; March 2, 2015, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 2, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the criteria for awarding the Texas Purple Heart Medal
to members of the armed forces wounded or killed at Fort Hood on
November 5, 2009.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 437.355(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The governor or adjutant general, if delegated the
authority, may adopt policies and regulations relating to awarding:
(1) the Texas Purple Heart Medal, which shall be
awarded to a service member who:
(A) [,] after September 11, 2001:
(i) [(A)] was inducted into federal service
from the Texas National Guard; and
(ii) [(B)] meets the criteria for an award
of the federal Purple Heart Medal; or
(B) was wounded or killed at Fort Hood on
November 5, 2009;
(2) the Texas Superior Service Medal, which shall be
awarded to:
(A) a service member of the Texas military forces
who has:
(i) completed 30 or more years of honorable
state service or a combination of state and federal service; and
(ii) continually demonstrated superior
performance and service while assigned to key leadership positions
demanding responsibility; or
(B) a civilian who has contributed significant
service to the Texas military forces;
(3) the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, which
shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state,
another state, or the United States for exceptionally outstanding
achievement or service to this state in performance of a duty of
great responsibility while serving with the Texas military forces
for whom the department receives a letter of recommendation for
award of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal that:
(A) gives an account of the exceptional
achievement or service; and
(B) includes facts and photographs, and extracts
from official documents to support and amplify the facts;
(4) the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, which shall
be awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state,
another state, or the United States who has performed service in a
superior and clearly outstanding manner;
(5) the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which shall
be awarded to a service member who:
(A) does not meet the criteria for an award of the
federal Humanitarian Service Medal;
(B) is a member of the Texas military forces; and
(C) while serving on state active duty or active
duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United
States Code, participates satisfactorily in defense support to a
mission under civilian authority to protect life or property during
or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest in the state;
(6) the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, which
shall be awarded to a service member of the Texas military forces
who served:
(A) on or after September 11, 2001;
(B) on state active duty or active duty under
state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code;
and
(C) satisfactorily in defense support to a
mission in the state under civilian authority;
(7) the Federal Service Medal, which shall be awarded
to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the
Texas military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or
after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days;
(8) the Texas Combat Service Ribbon, which shall be
awarded to a service member of the Texas National Guard who served,
after September 11, 2001, in a hostile fire zone as designated by
the United States secretary of defense;
(9) the Texas Faithful Service Medal, which shall be
awarded to a member of the Texas military forces who has completed
five years of honorable service during which the service member has
shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to
this state;
(10) the Texas Medal of Merit, which shall be awarded
to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or
the United States who performs outstanding service or attains
extraordinary achievement in behalf of the state or United States;
(11) the Texas State Guard Service Medal, which shall
be awarded to a service member who completes three consecutive
years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the
service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and
great loyalty to this state;
(12) the Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign
Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted
into federal service from the Texas National Guard after August 1,
1990, in support of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert
Storm, without regard to the place that the service member was
deployed while serving on active federal military duty;
(13) the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal, which shall be
awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service
from the Texas National Guard, without regard to the place that the
service member was deployed while serving on active federal
military duty, after:
(A) March 19, 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom; or
(B) August 31, 2010, in support of Operation New
Dawn; and
(14) the Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal, which shall
be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service
from the Texas National Guard after October 6, 2001, in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom, without regard to the place that the
service member was deployed while serving on active federal
military duty.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.
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