SRC-AMY H.B. 174 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 174 By: Howard (Estes) Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 5/3/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, a disparity exists between privileges and benefits afforded military service personnel serving in a national capacity and those serving in an active state capacity, including guarding airports during homeland security operations, providing natural disaster relief, and assisting in special circumstances, such as locating debris from the space shuttle Columbia. State military forces, including the National Guard, serving in a national capacity are granted protections, including exclusion from hiring discrimination, reemployment privileges, and continuation of health coverage upon reemployment. H.B. 174 grants a member of the state military forces who is ordered to active state duty the same benefits and protections provided certain persons in the uniformed services and military service. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 431, Government Code, by adding Section 431.017, as follows: Sec. 431.017. CERTAIN BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS FOR STATE SERVICE. Provides that a member of the state military forces who is ordered to active state duty by the governor, or by other proper authority under the law of this state, is entitled to the same benefits and protections provided certain persons in the uniformed services and military service. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies only to persons serving on active state duty on or after the effective date of this Act without regard to the date on which the person was initially ordered to active state duty. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.