AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 713 amends the Government Code to replace the Texas military forces position of assistant adjutant general for government affairs with an assistant adjutant general for domestic operations. Additionally, S.B. 713 amends the Government Code to clarify the title and duties of the assistant adjutant general for homeland security and duties of the assistant adjutant general for domestic operations.

 

The 83rd Legislature created new general officer positions within the Texas National Guard. The federal National Guard Bureau failed to recognize one of the positions.  S.B. 713 clarifies the duties of the general officer positions to allow the National Guard Bureau to recognize and fund the positions.

 

As proposed, S.B. 713 amends current law relating to general officers within the state military department.

 

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 437.058, Government Code, by amending Subsections (a), (d), (e), and (f) and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:

 

(a)  Authorizes the adjutant general to appoint as general officers one or more assistant deputy adjutants general, rather than appoint as general officers an assistant deputy adjutant general for army, an assistant deputy adjutant general for air, an assistant adjutant, rather than deputy, general for homeland security, and an assistant adjutant, rather than deputy, general for domestic operations, rather than for government affairs.

 

(d)  Requires the assistant deputy adjutants general for army to support the deputy adjutant general for army, represent the command staff at events as needed, and manage the activities assigned by the adjutant general or the deputy adjutant general for army.  Makes conforming and nonsubtantive changes.

 

(d-1)  Requires the assistant deputy adjutant general for air to support the deputy adjutant general for air, represent the command staff at events as needed, and manage the activities assigned by the adjutant general or the deputy adjutant general for air.

 

(e)  Requires the assistant adjutant general for homeland security, as determined by the adjutant general, to coordinate with other state agencies in matters pertaining to homeland security and coordinate homeland security actions taken by the National Guard Bureau in this state, rather than requires the assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as determined by the adjutant general, to coordinate with other state agencies in matters pertaining to homeland security to ensure state emergency services are provided and organized to support the state operations center and coordinate homeland security actions taken by the National Guard Bureau in this state.

 

(f)  Requires the assistant adjutant general for domestic operations to coordinate activities of the Texas military forces with the National Guard Bureau to ensure state emergency services are provided and organized to support the state operations center, and coordinate with other federal, state, and local jurisdictions and officials, rather than requires the assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as determined by the adjutant general, to coordinate activities of the Texas military forces with the National Guard Bureau to ensure funding and coordination with other federal, state, and local jurisdictions and officials in matters relating to the operations of the Texas military forces occurring in the assistant deputy adjutant general's jurisdiction or oversight.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2015.