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.