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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the state guard professionalization task 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. STATE GUARD PROFESSIONALIZATION TASK FORCE. |
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(a) The State Guard Professionalization Task Force is a temporary |
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task force created to advise the adjutant general on the |
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professionalization of the Texas State Guard under the Texas |
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Military Department. |
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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 Texas Department of Public |
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Safety or the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety's |
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designee; |
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(3) the director of the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management or the director of the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management's designee; |
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(4) the director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation or the director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation's designee; |
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(5) the director of the Texas A&M Forrest Service or |
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the director of the Texas A&M Forrest Service's designee; and |
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(6) any other directors or director's designees of any |
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other state agencies as determined by the adjutant general or the |
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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 as often as necessary to |
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perform the task force's duties. Meetings may be held at any time at |
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the request of the chair. |
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(e) The task force shall: |
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(1) use statistical analyses, data received from focus |
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groups on operations conducted by Texas State Guard, and other |
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research methods to conduct an examination of state missions and |
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operations of the State Guard in this state that includes: |
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(A) an identification of critical state missions |
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and operations needs; and |
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(B) a determination of the state's long-range |
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state missions and operations needs; |
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(2) identify and anticipate challenges and threats to |
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the state's operations, including but not limited to critical |
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infrastructure; |
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(3) develop solutions to overcome the challenges and |
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threats described by Subdivision (2); |
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(4) develop a strategy to professionalize and develop |
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capabilities of the Texas State Guard that is consistent with the |
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findings and determinations made 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) strategies to solve the challenges |
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identified under Subdivision (1)(A); |
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(B) policy priorities to address the long-range |
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needs determined under Subdivision (1)(B); |
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(C) policy priorities and budgetary needs to |
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implement the strategies and solutions determined under |
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Subdivision (3); 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 strategy determined under Subdivision (4). |
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(f) Not later than August 31, 2026, the task force shall |
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submit to adjutant general and the governor a report that contains |
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the recommendations described by Subsection (e)(6). |
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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. |