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        |  | AN ACT | 
      
        |  | relating to the use of fraudulent or fictitious military records; | 
      
        |  | creating an offense. | 
      
        |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
        |  | SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Penal Code, is amended | 
      
        |  | by adding Section 32.54 to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | Sec. 32.54.  FRAUDULENT OR FICTITIOUS MILITARY RECORD. | 
      
        |  | (a)  In this section: | 
      
        |  | (1)  "Military record" means an enlistment record, | 
      
        |  | occupation specialty, medal, award, decoration, or certification | 
      
        |  | obtained by a person through the person's service in the armed | 
      
        |  | forces of the United States or the state military forces. | 
      
        |  | (2)  "State military forces" has the meaning assigned | 
      
        |  | by Section 431.001, Government Code. | 
      
        |  | (b)  A person commits an offense if the person: | 
      
        |  | (1)  uses or claims to hold a military record that the | 
      
        |  | person knows: | 
      
        |  | (A)  is fraudulent; | 
      
        |  | (B)  is fictitious or has otherwise not been | 
      
        |  | granted or assigned to the person; or | 
      
        |  | (C)  has been revoked; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  uses or claims to hold that military record: | 
      
        |  | (A)  in a written or oral advertisement or other | 
      
        |  | promotion of a business; or | 
      
        |  | (B)  with the intent to: | 
      
        |  | (i)  obtain priority in receiving services | 
      
        |  | or resources under Subchapter G, Chapter 302, Labor Code; | 
      
        |  | (ii)  qualify for a veteran's employment | 
      
        |  | preference under Chapter 657, Government Code; | 
      
        |  | (iii)  obtain a license or certificate to | 
      
        |  | practice a trade, profession, or occupation; | 
      
        |  | (iv)  obtain a promotion, compensation, or | 
      
        |  | other benefit, or an increase in compensation or other benefit, in | 
      
        |  | employment or in the practice of a trade, profession, or | 
      
        |  | occupation; | 
      
        |  | (v)  obtain a benefit, service, or donation | 
      
        |  | from another person; | 
      
        |  | (vi)  obtain admission to an educational | 
      
        |  | program in this state; or | 
      
        |  | (vii)  gain a position in state government | 
      
        |  | with authority over another person, regardless of whether the actor | 
      
        |  | receives compensation for the position. | 
      
        |  | (c)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. | 
      
        |  | (d)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this | 
      
        |  | section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor | 
      
        |  | may be prosecuted under this section or the other law. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | 
      
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        |  | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 431 passed the Senate on | 
      
        |  | March 29, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Secretary of the Senate | 
      
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        |  | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 431 passed the House on | 
      
        |  | May 20, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 149, Nays 0, one | 
      
        |  | present not voting. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Chief Clerk of the House | 
      
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        |  | Approved: | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Date | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Governor |