84R14915 DDT-F

By: Schaefer H.B. No. 1899

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1899:

By: Shaheen C.S.H.B. No. 1899

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a ribbon for certain members of the military forces who served in support of operations to secure the Texas border.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 437.355, Government Code, is reenacted to incorporate amendments made to Section 431.134, Government Code, by Chapter 243 (H.B. 402), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 437.355. OTHER AWARDS. (a) The governor or adjutant general, if delegated the authority, may adopt policies and regulations relating to awarding:

(1) the Texas Purple Heart Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who, after September 11, 2001:

(A) was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard; and

(B) meets the criteria for an award of the federal Purple Heart Medal;

(2) the Texas Superior Service Medal, which shall be awarded to:

(A) a service member of the Texas military forces who has:

(i) completed 30 or more years of honorable state service or a combination of state and federal service; and

(ii) continually demonstrated superior performance and service while assigned to key leadership positions demanding responsibility; or

(B) a civilian who has contributed significant service to the Texas military forces;

(3) the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States for exceptionally outstanding achievement or service to this state in performance of a duty of great responsibility while serving with the Texas military forces for whom the department receives a letter of recommendation for award of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal that:

(A) gives an account of the exceptional achievement or service; and

(B) includes facts and photographs, and extracts from official documents to support and amplify the facts;

(4) the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who has performed service in a superior and clearly outstanding manner;

(5) the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who:

(A) does not meet the criteria for an award of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal;

(B) is a member of the Texas military forces; and

(C) while serving on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code, participates satisfactorily in defense support to a mission under civilian authority to protect life or property during or soon after a natural disaster or civil unrest in the state;

(6) the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member of the Texas military forces who served:

(A) on or after September 11, 2001;

(B) on state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code; and

(C) satisfactorily in defense support to a mission in the state under civilian authority;

(7) the Federal Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days;

(8) the Texas Combat Service Ribbon, which shall be awarded to a service member of the Texas National Guard who served, after September 11, 2001, in a hostile fire zone as designated by the United States secretary of defense;

(9) the Texas Faithful Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the Texas military forces who has completed five years of honorable service during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state;

(10) the Texas Medal of Merit, which shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who performs outstanding service or attains extraordinary achievement in behalf of the state or United States;

(11) the Texas State Guard Service Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who completes three consecutive years of honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the service member has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to this state;

(12) the Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard after August 1, 1990, in support of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty;

(13) the Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member who was inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard, without regard to the place that the service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty, after:

(A) March 19, 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or

(B) August 31, 2010, in support of Operation New Dawn; [and]

(14) the Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal, which shall be awarded to a service member 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 service member was deployed while serving on active federal military duty;

(15) the Cold War Medal, which shall be awarded to a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas State Guard who served between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991, subject to Subsection (c); and

(16) the Texas Border Security and Support Service Ribbon, which shall be awarded to a member of the state military forces who served:

(A) on or after July 28, 2014;

(B) on state active duty; and

(C) satisfactorily in support of operations to secure the Texas border.

(b) A person may be awarded only one Texas Superior Service Medal.

(c) A person described by Subsection (a)(15) may be awarded a Cold War Medal only if a fee in the amount necessary to cover the costs of awarding the medal is paid to the adjutant general's department.

SECTION 2. Section 431.134, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.