Bill Text: TX HB2108 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to a medal for certain members of the military forces who served during the Cold War.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB2108 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2108-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 2108
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a medal for certain members of the military forces who
  served during the Cold War.
         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; and
               (15)  the Cold War Medal, which, subject to Subsection
  (c), shall be awarded to a member of the military forces of this
  state or the United States [Texas National Guard or the Texas State
  Guard] who:
                     (A)  served between September 2, 1945, and
  December 26, 1991; and
                     (B)  was a resident of this state at the time the
  service member entered military service[, subject to Subsection
  (c)].
         (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:
               (1)  a federal Cold War Medal or an equivalent federal
  medal is not available to be awarded; and
               (2)  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.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2108 was passed by the House on May 5,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2108 was passed by the Senate on May
  26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
feedback