BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1589

By: Cortez

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, only one Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is awarded each regular session of the Texas Legislature, and interested parties note that it would be appropriate to increase the number of medals awarded in order to honor individuals from two periods of military service. H.B. 1589 seeks to authorize the award of two such medals during a regular session.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1589 amends the Government Code to prohibit the legislature, during a regular session, from directing the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to be awarded to more than one person for service in the state or federal military during the period beginning after 1835 but before 1956 and one person for service in the state or federal military after 1955, rather than restricting such an award at the legislature's direction solely to one person without regard to the period in which the service occurred.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.