BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest award given for the performance of duty during a time of war by the State of Texas. Section 431.131 (Texas Legislative Medal of Honor), Government Code, allows for the award to be given out only once per regular session of the Texas Legislature. Due to this restriction, many brave Texas warfighters who have proven their merit on the field of battle must wait at length for their due recognition.
H.B. 1589 amends Section 431.131(d) to provide for the awarding of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor a maximum of twice per regular session; once to an individual whose service fell between 1835 and 1955, and once to an individual whose service fell after 1955. This provision will allow for more of Texas's meritous warriors who participated in World War II and Korea to receive their due recognition, while not excluding those who fought and served bravely after 1955.
H.B. 1589 amends current law relating to the awarding of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
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 Section 431.131(d), Government Code, to authorize the legislature to direct the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to be awarded only during a regular session and prohibits the legislature from, during a regular session, directing the medal to be awarded to more than one person for service in the state or federal military forces during the period beginning after 1835 but before 1956, and one person for service in the state or federal military forces after 1955, rather than to be awarded to more than one person during a regular session.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.