AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 488 amends the Government Code to make individuals who were wounded or killed in the shooting at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, eligible to receive the Texas Purple Heart Medal. Current law prevents this because the United States Department of Defense deemed the attack an act of "workplace violence," instead of an act of terrorism, which prevented those individuals from receiving both the federal and Texas Purple Heart Medal.
As proposed, S.B. 488 amends current law relating to the criteria for awarding the Texas Purple Heart Medal to members of the armed forces wounded or killed at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 437.355(a), Government Code, to add the requirement that the Texas Purple Heart Medal be awarded to a service member who was wounded or killed at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, and makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.