By: Flynn (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 2895

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2007; May 7, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; May 18, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 18, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the criteria for awarding the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal to certain members of the state military forces.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 431.134, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 431.134. OTHER AWARDS. The adjutant general may adopt rules and regulations relating to the:

(1) Texas Faithful Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the state military forces who has completed five years of honorable service during which the person has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to the state;

(2) Federal Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the state military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days;

(3) Texas Medal of Merit, which may be presented 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;

(4) Texas Outstanding Service Medal, which may be presented to a 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) Texas State Guard Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a person who completes three consecutive years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the person has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to the state;

(6) Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a person 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 person was deployed while serving on active federal military duty;

(7) Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a person who:

(A) does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal;

(B) is a member of the state military forces; and

(C) while serving on [under] state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32 of the United States Code [orders], participates satisfactorily in defense support to a mission under civilian authority [the accomplishment of missions] to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest in the state;

(8) Texas Cavalry Medal, which shall be awarded to a person who:

(A) served on or after September 11, 2001, in the 124th Cavalry, Texas Army National Guard; and

(B) served in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States secretary of defense;

(9) Texas Combat Service Ribbon, which shall be awarded to a 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; and

(10) Texas Purple Heart Medal, which shall be awarded to a person who, after September 11, 2001:

(A) was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard; and

(B) meets the criteria for an award of the federal Purple Heart Medal.

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, 2007.

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