Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB356 by Watson (Relating to awards for certain members of the state military forces inducted into federal service in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB356, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($49,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2012
($42,000)
2013
($7,000)
2014
($5,005)
2015
($3,000)
2016
($998)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2012
($42,000)
2013
($7,000)
2014
($5,005)
2015
($3,000)
2016
($998)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Government Code, adding Section 431.134 (a) (13) and (14) to include the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal awarded to persons who were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
The bill would add the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal which shall be awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard, without regard to the place the person was deployed while serving on active federal military duty. To be eligible a person would have been on federal active duty after March 19, 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or on federal active duty after August 31, 2010, in support of Operation New Dawn.
The bill would also add the Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal which shall be awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after October 6, 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, without regard to the place that the person was deployed while serving on active federal military duty.
Methodology
The estimated cost per medal is $3.50. The Adjutant General’s Department estimates a total of 12,000 members of the Texas National Guard are currently eligible to receive the campaign medals at a cost of $42,000 ($3.50 X 12,000), and that 2,000 members may be awarded in fiscal year 2013 at a cost of $7,000 ($3.50 X 2,000), 1,430 in fiscal year 2014 at a cost of $5,005 ($3.50 X 1,430), 857 in fiscal year 2015 at a cost of $3,000 ($3.5 X 857), and 285 medals awarded in 2016 at a cost of $998 ($3.50 X 285).
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.