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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 437.351, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to |
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a member of the state or federal military forces [designated by |
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concurrent resolution of the legislature] who voluntarily performs |
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a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life |
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that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the service member |
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for gallantry and intrepidity above the service member's comrades. |
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Awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of |
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extraordinary merit. The medal may be awarded only on |
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incontestable proof of performance of the deed. To be eligible for |
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the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, a service member must: |
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(1) have been born in this state; |
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(2) reside in this state or have been a resident of |
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this state on the service member's death; or |
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(3) have been a resident of this state when the service |
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member entered military service. |
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(d) The legislature by concurrent resolution may direct the |
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governor to award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to a service |
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member nominated by the nominating committee. The committee chairs |
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serving on the nominating committee shall jointly prepare a |
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concurrent resolution directing the governor to award the medal to |
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a service member nominated. The legislature may direct the medal to |
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be awarded only during a regular session and may not, during a |
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regular session, direct the medal to be awarded to more than: |
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(1) one service member for service in the state or |
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federal military forces during the period beginning after 1835 but |
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before 1976 [1956]; and |
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(2) one service member for service in the state or |
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federal military forces after 1975 [1955]. |
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(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the governor may award |
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the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to a service member nominated |
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by the nominating committee who is also a recipient of the |
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Congressional Medal of Honor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |