BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1618

By: Cyrier

Appropriations

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the state should do more to honor the service of the men and women of Texas military forces and their families. C.S.H.B. 1618 seeks to do this by making state death benefits available to the eligible survivors of certain members of the Texas military forces.

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

C.S.H.B. 1618 amends the Government Code to make survivors of a member of the Texas military forces who is on state active duty and whose eligible survivors are not otherwise eligible under federal law to receive certain death benefits under federal law in relation to that duty eligible for certain state financial assistance payments. The bill's provisions apply only in relation to a death that occurs on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1618 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not make benefits available to the survivors of an applicable member of the Texas military forces who performs a military duty but is not on state active duty.