85R4988 YDB-F
By: Cain H.B. No. 1912
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain awards for outstanding achievement or service
to this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 437.355(a), Government Code, as amended
by Chapters 144 (H.B. 115) and 760 (H.B. 2108), Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is reenacted and 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) was inducted into federal service from
the Texas National Guard; and
(ii) 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, an employee of the department,
or a civilian selected by the adjutant general for exceptionally
outstanding achievement or service to this state in performance of
a duty of great responsibility while serving in [with] the Texas
military forces or as a department employee or in a manner that
brings exceptionally meritorious acknowledgement of the department
and 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;
(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; [and]
(15) the Cold War Medal, which, subject to Subsection
(c), shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this
state or the United States who:
(A) served between September 2, 1945, and
December 26, 1991; and
(B) was a resident of this state at the time the
service member entered military service;
(16) the Texas Adjutant General's Individual Award,
which shall be awarded to an individual member of the Texas military
forces for the individual's meritorious achievement or outstanding
service in the performance of a duty that is extremely noteworthy
but does not meet the criteria for an award of a higher state
decoration; and
(17) the Texas Medal for the Defense of Freedom, which
shall be awarded to any civilian who is killed or wounded by hostile
action while serving under any competent authority of the
department under conditions for which a service member would be
eligible for receipt of the Texas Purple Heart Medal.
SECTION 2. Section 437.355, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3), a civilian is
ineligible to be awarded the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal
if the civilian is:
(1) required to register under Chapter 305 or has any
current or potential pecuniary interest related to department
activities or fee-based services provided to a member of the Texas
military forces or a department employee;
(2) employed by a person or organization that is
required to register under Chapter 305 or that has any current or
potential pecuniary interest related to department activities or
fee-based services provided to a member of the Texas military
forces or a department employee; or
(3) recommended for the award based on exceptional
achievement or service that occurred at a time when the civilian was
required to register under Chapter 305 or had any pecuniary
interest related to department activities or fee-based services
provided to a member of the Texas military forces or a department
employee.
SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 437.3555 to read as follows:
Sec. 437.3555. GOVERNOR'S UNIT CITATION. (a) The
Governor's Unit Citation shall be awarded to a unit or
organizational detachment of the Texas military forces for
extraordinary valor or exceptionally meritorious conduct or
achievement in the performance of outstanding combat operations,
combat support, or service support operations or activities.
(b) To be eligible for the Governor's Unit Citation, a unit
or organizational detachment of the Texas military forces must:
(1) have served for at least 90 continuous days in
support of military operations;
(2) have served under the authority of Title 10 or
Title 32 of the United States Code, within or outside the
continental United States; and
(3) have performed with marked distinction under
difficult or hazardous conditions during single or successive
operations covering the 90 days required under Subdivision (1).
(c) The adjutant general shall award the Governor's Unit
Citation.
SECTION 4. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.