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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the Texas State Guard Professionalization Task |
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Force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 437, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 437.311 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 437.311. TEXAS STATE GUARD PROFESSIONALIZATION TASK |
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FORCE. (a) The Texas State Guard Professionalization Task Force is |
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created to advise the adjutant general on the professionalization |
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of the Texas State Guard. |
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(b) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) the adjutant general or the adjutant general's |
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designee; |
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(2) the director of the Department of Public Safety or |
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the director's designee; |
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(3) the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management or the chief's designee; |
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(4) the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation or the executive director's designee; |
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(5) the director of the Texas A&M Forest Service or the |
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director's designee; and |
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(6) the executive head of any other state agency or the |
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executive head's designee as determined by the adjutant general or |
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the adjutant general's designee. |
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(c) The adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee |
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is the chair of the task force. |
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(d) The task force shall meet at the call of the chair as |
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often as necessary to perform the task force's duties. |
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(e) The task force shall: |
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(1) examine the state missions and operations of the |
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Texas State Guard using statistical analyses and data received from |
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focus groups and other research methods, including identifying the |
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short- and long-term critical state missions and operations needs |
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of the Texas State Guard; |
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(2) identify any existing and potential challenges and |
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threats to the Texas State Guard's operations, including critical |
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infrastructure; |
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(3) develop solutions to overcome the challenges and |
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threats identified under Subdivision (2); |
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(4) develop strategies to: |
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(A) professionalize the Texas State Guard; and |
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(B) develop the capabilities of the Texas State |
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Guard that are consistent with the findings and determinations made |
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under this subsection; |
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(5) recommend to the adjutant general and the |
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governor: |
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(A) policy priorities to address the long-term |
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needs identified under Subdivision (1); and |
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(B) the solutions developed under Subdivision |
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(3) and policy priorities and budgetary needs to implement those |
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solutions; and |
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(6) advise the adjutant general and the governor |
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regarding the staffing, facilities, equipment, and technology |
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needed to implement the strategies developed under Subdivision (4). |
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(f) Not later than August 31, 2026, the task force shall |
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submit a report to the adjutant general and the governor that |
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contains the task force's findings and recommendations described by |
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Subsection (e)(5). |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |