BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1905

By: Guillen

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that state law establishing the command structure within the Texas Military Department differs from certain federal structural standards and note that this difference in command structure results in a withholding of funds for the department. H.B. 1905 seeks to remedy this situation by providing for certain title and rank changes within the department's command structure.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1905 amends the Government Code to change from one to one or more the number of assistant deputy adjutants general for army the adjutant general may appoint. The bill removes the adjutant general's authority to appoint an assistant deputy adjutant general for homeland security and an assistant deputy adjutant general for government affairs and instead authorizes the adjutant general to appoint an assistant adjutant general for homeland security and an assistant adjutant general for domestic operations.

H.B. 1905 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. The bill changes the officer responsible for coordinating with other state agencies in matters pertaining to homeland security and coordinating homeland security actions taken by the National Guard Bureau in Texas from the assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard to the assistant adjutant general for homeland security. The bill removes the specification that such coordination with other state agencies in matters pertaining to homeland security be for the purposes of ensuring that state emergency services are provided and organized to support the state operations center.

H.B. 1905 removes the requirement that the assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard 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. The bill instead requires the assistant adjutant general for domestic operations to coordinate with other federal, state, and local jurisdictions and officials and to coordinate activities of the Texas military forces with the National Guard Bureau to ensure that state emergency services are provided and organized to support the state operations center.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.