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          A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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          AN ACT
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        relating to the Texas military; imposing criminal penalties;  | 
      
      
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        authorizing fees. | 
      
      
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               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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        ARTICLE 1.  TEXAS MILITARY | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.01.  Subtitle C, Title 4, Government Code, is  | 
      
      
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        amended by adding Chapter 437 to read as follows: | 
      
      
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        CHAPTER 437.  TEXAS MILITARY | 
      
      
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        SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  "Active military service" means state active duty  | 
      
      
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        service, federally funded state active duty service, or federal  | 
      
      
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        active duty service.  The term does not include service performed  | 
      
      
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        exclusively for training, such as basic combat training, advanced  | 
      
      
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        individual training, annual training, inactive duty training, and  | 
      
      
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        special training periodically made available to service members. | 
      
      
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                     (2)  "Adjutant general" means the military commander of  | 
      
      
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        the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
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                     (3)  "Department" means the Texas Military Department. | 
      
      
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                     (4)  "Employee" has the meaning assigned by Section  | 
      
      
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        21.002, Labor Code. | 
      
      
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                     (5)  "Employer" has the meaning assigned by Section  | 
      
      
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        21.002, Labor Code. | 
      
      
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                     (6)  "Executive director" means the administrative  | 
      
      
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        head of the department who is responsible for managing the  | 
      
      
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        department. | 
      
      
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                     (7)  "Military duty" means any activity of a service  | 
      
      
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        member performing a duty under a lawful military order, including  | 
      
      
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        training. | 
      
      
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                     (8)  "Service member" means a member or former member  | 
      
      
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        of the state military forces or a component of the United States  | 
      
      
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        armed forces, including a reserve component. | 
      
      
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                     (9)  "State active duty" means the performance of  | 
      
      
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        military or emergency service for this state at the call of the  | 
      
      
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        governor or the governor's designee. | 
      
      
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                     (10)  "State military forces" means the Texas military  | 
      
      
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        forces. | 
      
      
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                     (11)  "State training and other duty" means the service  | 
      
      
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        and training typically performed by service members in preparation  | 
      
      
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        for state active duty.  The term includes training for man-made and  | 
      
      
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        natural disaster response and maintenance of equipment and  | 
      
      
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        property. | 
      
      
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                     (12)  "Temporary state employee" means a service member  | 
      
      
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        who is not a full-time or part-time state employee and who is on  | 
      
      
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        state active duty. | 
      
      
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                     (13)  "Texas Military Department" means the state  | 
      
      
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        agency charged with administrative activities in support of the  | 
      
      
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        Texas military forces. | 
      
      
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                     (14)  "Texas military forces" means the Texas National  | 
      
      
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        Guard, the Texas State Guard, and any other military force  | 
      
      
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        organized under state law. | 
      
      
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                     (15)  "Texas National Guard" means the Texas Army  | 
      
      
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        National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. | 
      
      
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                     (16)  "Texas State Guard" means the volunteer military  | 
      
      
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        forces that provide community service and emergency response  | 
      
      
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        activities for this state, as organized under the Second Amendment  | 
      
      
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        to the United States Constitution, and operating as a defense force  | 
      
      
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        authorized under 32 U.S.C. Section 109. | 
      
      
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                     (17)  "Unit" means any organized group of the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces that has a designated commander. | 
      
      
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                     (18)  "Unit fund" means: | 
      
      
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                           (A)  money held by a military unit to support the  | 
      
      
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        service members in the military unit while serving in the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces; | 
      
      
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                           (B)  the state post exchange services account; or | 
      
      
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                           (C)  the billeting account. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.0011.  REFERENCE IN OTHER LAW.  A reference in other  | 
      
      
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        law to the adjutant general's department means the Texas Military  | 
      
      
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        Department. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.002.  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.  (a)  The governor is the  | 
      
      
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        commander-in-chief of the Texas military forces, except any portion  | 
      
      
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        of those forces in the service of the United States.  The governor  | 
      
      
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        has full control and authority over all matters relating to the  | 
      
      
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        Texas military forces, including organization, equipment, and  | 
      
      
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        discipline. | 
      
      
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               (b)  If the governor is unable to perform the duties of  | 
      
      
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        commander-in-chief, the adjutant general shall command the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces, unless the state constitution or other state law  | 
      
      
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        requires the lieutenant governor or the president of the senate to  | 
      
      
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        perform the duties of governor. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.003.  GOVERNOR'S MILITARY APPOINTMENTS.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
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        governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint  | 
      
      
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        an adjutant general to a two-year term expiring February 1 of each  | 
      
      
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        even-numbered year.  The adjutant general is responsible for  | 
      
      
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        leading and managing the Texas military forces.  The adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general is subordinate only to the governor in matters pertaining  | 
      
      
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        to the Texas military forces.  The adjutant general's rank is  | 
      
      
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        assigned at the discretion of the governor and may not exceed  | 
      
      
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        lieutenant general.  Federal recognition is at the rank authorized  | 
      
      
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        by the National Guard Bureau.  The adjutant general may be referred  | 
      
      
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        to as the commanding general of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
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               (b)  On recommendation of the adjutant general, the governor  | 
      
      
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        shall appoint a deputy adjutant general for army, a deputy adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general for air, and the commander of the Texas State Guard.  The  | 
      
      
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        deputy adjutants general and commander serve until replaced.  To be  | 
      
      
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        qualified for appointment as a deputy adjutant general, a service  | 
      
      
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        member must have the qualifications required for appointment as  | 
      
      
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        adjutant general. | 
      
      
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               (c)  The governor shall appoint, commission, and assign the  | 
      
      
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        Texas State Guard general officers.  The governor may remove or  | 
      
      
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        reassign an officer.  To be eligible for appointment as a general  | 
      
      
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        officer, a service member must have: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  been a federally recognized officer of not less  | 
      
      
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        than field grade of the Texas National Guard or a regular or reserve  | 
      
      
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        component of the United States military or served at least 15 years  | 
      
      
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        of combined service as a commissioned officer in the Texas military  | 
      
      
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        forces or a regular or reserve component of the United States  | 
      
      
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        military; and | 
      
      
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                     (2)  served at least three years as a commissioned  | 
      
      
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        officer in the Texas State Guard. | 
      
      
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               (d)  The governor may delegate the powers granted by  | 
      
      
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        Subsection (c) to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.004.  REGULATING TEXAS MILITARY FORCES.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
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        governor shall make and publish regulations, according to existing  | 
      
      
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        federal and state law, to govern the Texas military forces.  The  | 
      
      
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        regulations must address general orders and forms for the  | 
      
      
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        performance of duties of service members on military duty,  | 
      
      
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        including provisions governing courts-martial. | 
      
      
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               (b)  The governor may reorganize and provide regulations  | 
      
      
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        relating to the organization of any portion of the Texas National  | 
      
      
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        Guard, Texas State Guard, emergency militia, or other military  | 
      
      
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        force organized under state law. | 
      
      
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               (c)  The governor may obtain from the United States  | 
      
      
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        government the arms, equipment, munitions, or other military  | 
      
      
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        supplies to which the state is entitled for use by the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces. | 
      
      
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               (d)  The governor, as the governor determines to be in this  | 
      
      
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        state's best interest, shall designate the locations for storage of  | 
      
      
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        arms, equipment, munitions, or other military property owned by or  | 
      
      
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        under the control of this state. | 
      
      
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               (e)  The governor may delegate the powers granted by this  | 
      
      
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        section to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.005.  AUTHORITY FOR STATE ACTIVE DUTY, STATE  | 
      
      
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        TRAINING, AND OTHER DUTY.  (a)  The governor may activate all or  | 
      
      
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        part of the Texas military forces to state active duty or for state  | 
      
      
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        training and other duty.  The governor may delegate all or part of  | 
      
      
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        the authority granted by this section to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
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               (b)  On delegation of the authority by the governor, the  | 
      
      
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        adjutant general may order all or part of the Texas military forces  | 
      
      
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        to state training and other duty if funding has been provided in the  | 
      
      
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        General Appropriations Act or volunteer resources are available. | 
      
      
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               (c)  On delegation of the authority by the governor, the  | 
      
      
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        adjutant general may order all or part of the Texas military forces  | 
      
      
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        to state training and other duty if requested by a federal, state,  | 
      
      
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        or local governmental entity and the entity authorizes  | 
      
      
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        reimbursement of the costs to this state. | 
      
      
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               (d)  A service member called to state active duty or to state  | 
      
      
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        training and other duty has the rights, privileges, duties,  | 
      
      
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        functions, and authorities conferred or imposed by state law. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.006.  OFFICERS.  (a)  The governor shall appoint  | 
      
      
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        and commission officers of the Texas National Guard.  To be eligible  | 
      
      
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        for appointment, a service member must be qualified under United  | 
      
      
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        States law and regulations. | 
      
      
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               (b)  The adjutant general shall appoint and commission  | 
      
      
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        officers, other than a general officer, in the Texas State Guard.   | 
      
      
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        To be eligible for appointment, a service member must be qualified  | 
      
      
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        under state guard regulations and be recommended for appointment by  | 
      
      
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        the commander of the state guard. | 
      
      
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               (c)  An officer appointed under this section shall take and  | 
      
      
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        subscribe the official oath. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.007.  ENLISTMENT AND APPOINTMENT.  (a)  Federal law  | 
      
      
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        prescribes the terms and the qualifications and requirements for  | 
      
      
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        enlistment and appointment in the Texas National Guard.  The  | 
      
      
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        governor and legislature may prescribe additional terms,  | 
      
      
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        qualifications, and requirements that do not conflict with federal  | 
      
      
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        law. | 
      
      
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               (b)  Enlistment in the Texas State Guard is prescribed by  | 
      
      
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        Subchapter G. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.008.  MILITARY FACILITIES PROJECTS:  MATCHING  | 
      
      
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        FEDERAL FUNDS.  If the governor, after consulting with the adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general, determines that the state is eligible for federal matching  | 
      
      
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        funds for projects at military facilities in this state, the  | 
      
      
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        governor may direct that money appropriated for another purpose be  | 
      
      
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        used to obtain the federal matching funds if the appropriation  | 
      
      
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        authorizes the money to be used for that purpose. | 
      
      
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        SUBCHAPTER B.  TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.051.  SUNSET PROVISION.  The department is subject  | 
      
      
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        to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued in existence as  | 
      
      
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        provided by that chapter, the department is abolished and this  | 
      
      
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        subchapter expires September 1, 2019. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.052.  ADJUTANT GENERAL:  JURISDICTION, DIVISION OF  | 
      
      
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        RESPONSIBILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS.  (a)  The adjutant general  | 
      
      
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        exercises the jurisdiction and powers conferred by this subtitle.   | 
      
      
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        The adjutant general is the governing officer, policy maker, and  | 
      
      
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        head of the department. | 
      
      
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               (b)  The adjutant general shall adopt and implement  | 
      
      
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        regulations or policies that clearly separate the adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general's responsibilities from the administrative  | 
      
      
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        responsibilities of the department's executive director and staff. | 
      
      
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               (c)  To be eligible for appointment as adjutant general, a  | 
      
      
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        service member must: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  at the time of appointment, be serving as a  | 
      
      
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        federally recognized officer of not less than colonel in the Texas  | 
      
      
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        National Guard; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  have previously served on active duty or active  | 
      
      
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        duty for training with the United States Army or Air Force; | 
      
      
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                     (3)  meet for the year the appointment is made the  | 
      
      
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        submission requirements of the General Officer Federal Recognition  | 
      
      
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        Board or its successor; and | 
      
      
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                     (4)  have completed at least 15 years of service as a  | 
      
      
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        federally recognized reserve or active duty commissioned officer  | 
      
      
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        with an active unit of the United States Army or Air Force, the  | 
      
      
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        National Guard, or the Texas National Guard, including at least  | 
      
      
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        five years with the Texas National Guard. | 
      
      
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               (d)  The appointment of the adjutant general shall be made  | 
      
      
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        without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,  | 
      
      
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        or national origin of the appointee. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.053.  ADJUTANT GENERAL:  DUTIES.  The adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general shall: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  perform duties assigned by the governor relating  | 
      
      
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        to the military affairs of this state; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  assume responsibility for the overall leadership,  | 
      
      
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        management, accountability, and operations of the Texas military  | 
      
      
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        forces, including the transportation of troops, munitions,  | 
      
      
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        military equipment, and property in this state; | 
      
      
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                     (3)  oversee the preparation of returns and reports  | 
      
      
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        required of this state by the United States; | 
      
      
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                     (4)  maintain a register of all officers of the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces; | 
      
      
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                     (5)  publish at state expense, when necessary, state  | 
      
      
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        military law and regulations; | 
      
      
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                     (6)  make available annual reports concerning the Texas  | 
      
      
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        military forces; | 
      
      
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                     (7)  establish reasonable and necessary fees for the  | 
      
      
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        administration of this subtitle; | 
      
      
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                     (8)  employ and arm, as the adjutant general determines  | 
      
      
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        appropriate, persons licensed under Title 10, Occupations Code, to  | 
      
      
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        protect property that is under the adjutant general's authority and  | 
      
      
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        to satisfy applicable security requirements; | 
      
      
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                     (9)  define and prescribe the kind and amount of  | 
      
      
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        supplies, including operational munitions for use in this state, to  | 
      
      
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        be purchased for the Texas military forces; | 
      
      
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                     (10)  prescribe general regulations for the  | 
      
      
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        maintenance of supplies and for the transportation and distribution  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        of supplies from the place of purchase to camps, stations,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        companies, or other necessary places of safekeeping; | 
      
      
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                     (11)  have supplies, whether the property of the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        States or this state, properly cared for and kept in good order and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        ready for use; and | 
      
      
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                     (12)  as the adjutant general determines appropriate,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        sell or destroy property and supplies or exchange property and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        supplies for other military property and supplies. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.0531.  EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY  | 
      
      
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        STATEMENT.  The adjutant general shall adopt a written policy  | 
      
      
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        statement to implement a program of equal employment opportunity  | 
      
      
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        under which all personnel transactions are made without regard to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin.   | 
      
      
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        The policy statement must include: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  personnel policies, including policies relating  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        to recruitment, evaluation, selection, appointment, training, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        promotion of personnel that comply with Chapter 21, Labor Code; | 
      
      
        | 
           
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                     (2)  a comprehensive analysis of the department's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        workforce that meets federal and state laws, rules, and regulations  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        and instructions directly adopted from those laws, rules, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        regulations; | 
      
      
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                     (3)  procedures for determining the extent of underuse  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        in the department's workforce of persons for whom federal or state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        laws, rules, and regulations and instructions directly adopted from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        those laws, rules, and regulations encourage a more equitable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        balance; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  reasonable methods to appropriately address the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        areas of underuse described in Subdivision (3). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.054.  ADJUTANT GENERAL:  GENERAL POWERS.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general is the decision-making authority on all matters  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        concerning the location and maintenance of military forces and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities in this state.  The adjutant general may set priorities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance of Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces armories, facilities, and improvements owned or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        leased by this state.  The adjutant general in this capacity is a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        public authority and a body politic and corporate and has all powers  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        necessary for the acquisition, construction, rental, control,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maintenance, operation, and disposition of Texas military forces  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities and real property and all associated property and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        equipment. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The adjutant general may execute the cooperative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        agreements with the National Guard Bureau and an interagency  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military agreement with a federal, state, or local governmental or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        quasi-governmental agency. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The adjutant general may delegate the authority granted  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this section in whole or in part. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.055.  SEAL.  The seal of the adjutant general  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        consists of a five-pointed star with "Adjutant General, State of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas" around the margin. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.056.  MANDATORY TRAINING FOR ADJUTANT GENERAL.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  Before the adjutant general may assume the duties of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        office and before the adjutant general may be confirmed by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        senate, the adjutant general must complete at least one course of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the training program established under this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A training program established under this section must  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provide information to the adjutant general regarding: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  this chapter; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the federal and state programs operated by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the federal and state roles and functions of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the regulations of the department, with an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        emphasis on disciplinary and investigatory authority regulations; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  the current budget for the department, with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        emphasis on state and federal funds; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  the results of the most recent formal federal and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state audits of the department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  the requirements of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  Chapter 552; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the federal Freedom of Information Act (5  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        U.S.C. Section 552); | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  the requirements of the conflict-of-interest laws  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and other laws relating to public officials; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (9)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department or the Texas Ethics Commission; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (10)  the requirements and development of the Master  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Cooperative Agreements between this state and the federal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        government. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.057.  DEPUTY ADJUTANTS GENERAL.  (a)  A deputy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general has the rank prescribed by the governor, not to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exceed the grade authorized for federal recognition in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position.  A deputy adjutant general may not be promoted to a rank  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        higher than that of the adjutant general.  A deputy adjutant general  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is entitled to the rights, privileges, amenities, and immunities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        granted officers of that rank in the Texas National Guard.  A deputy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general may be removed from office by the governor. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A deputy adjutant general shall assist the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general by performing assigned duties.  If the adjutant general is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dead, absent, or unable to act, the deputy adjutant general who is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        designated in the adjutant general's succession plan shall perform  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the duties of the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Each deputy adjutant general must complete the training  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required of the adjutant general as prescribed by Section 437.056  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not later than the 60th day after the date of appointment. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.058.  GENERAL OFFICERS.  (a)  The adjutant general  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may appoint as general officers an assistant deputy adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general for army, an assistant deputy adjutant general for air, an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assistant deputy adjutant general for homeland security, and an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assistant deputy adjutant general for government affairs. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A general officer may not be promoted to a rank higher  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than that of the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A general officer appointed under this section is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        responsible to and serves at the pleasure of the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The assistant deputy adjutant general for the army shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        support the deputy adjutant general for the army, represent the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        command staff at events as needed, and manage the activities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned by the adjutant general or the deputy adjutant general for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the army. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        National Guard or the Air National Guard, as determined by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general, shall: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  coordinate with other state agencies in matters  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        pertaining to homeland security to ensure state emergency services  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are provided and organized to support the state operations center;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  coordinate homeland security actions taken by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        National Guard Bureau in this state. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The assistant deputy adjutant general for the Army  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        National Guard or the Air National Guard, as determined by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general, shall 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. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  The Texas military forces shall have at least one  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        traditional Texas Air National Guard general officer and two  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        traditional Texas Army National Guard general officers to support  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the operation and command of the Texas National Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.059.  ADJUTANT GENERAL APPOINTMENTS.  The adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general, as the adjutant general determines appropriate and with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        available funds, may appoint full-time employees of the department,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        traditional national guard members, state guard volunteers, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        federal employees. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.060.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROVISIONS.  (a)  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person may not be appointed adjutant general, a deputy adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general, a general officer, judge advocate general, or executive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        director if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 305 because of the person's activities for compensation on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        behalf of a profession related to the operation of the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  An officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        trade association in the field of defense or veterans affairs may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not be appointed adjutant general, a deputy adjutant general, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general officer, judge advocate general, or executive director. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A person who is the spouse of an officer, manager, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of defense  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or veterans affairs may not be appointed adjutant general, a deputy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general, a general officer, judge advocate general, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        executive director. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  For the purposes of this section, a Texas trade  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        association is a nonprofit, cooperative, and voluntarily joined  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        association in this state designed to assist its members and its  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        professional problems and in promoting their common interest. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.061.  REMOVAL PROVISIONS FOR ADJUTANT GENERAL.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  It is a ground for removal that the adjutant general: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  does not have at the time of appointment the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        qualifications for service required by this chapter; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  does not maintain the qualifications for service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required by this chapter; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  does not obtain approval of the General Officer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Federal Recognition Board or its successors; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  is found to have violated ethical standards of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        conduct of the federal government, this state, or the department;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  cannot discharge the duties required by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position because of illness or disability. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The validity of an action of the adjutant general is not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        affected by the fact that it is taken when a ground for removal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exists. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  If a potential ground for removal exists, the deputy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general with the longest tenure in that position in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department shall notify the governor that a potential ground for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        removal exists. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.062.  SALARIES.  (a)  The adjutant general is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to a salary in the amount designated in the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A deputy adjutant general, general officer, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        executive director employed under this chapter is entitled to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary subject to the classification and salary schedule provisions  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined in the General Appropriations Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER C.  TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.101.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.  (a)  The executive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        director is an employee of the department and serves at the pleasure  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Subject to Sections 437.052 and 437.054, the executive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        director may enter into contracts related to the purposes or duties  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the department and may have and use a corporate seal. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The executive director is responsible for the daily  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        administration of the department and the operational compliance  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with the cooperative agreements between the department and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        National Guard Bureau. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.102.  DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.  (a)  The executive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        director may hire employees as necessary to carry on the operations  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The executive director or the executive director's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        designee shall provide to the adjutant general and to department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employees, as often as necessary, information regarding the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        requirements for office or employment under this chapter, including  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information regarding a person's responsibilities under applicable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employees. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.103.  STATE GUARD ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), to be eligible to hold a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position relating to the daily operations and coordination of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard, an employee must maintain membership in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  For good cause, the adjutant general may exempt a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position from the requirement under Subsection (a) by placing a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        letter stating the reason for the exemption in the state human  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resources files at the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.104.  CAREER LADDER PROGRAM; PERFORMANCE  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        EVALUATIONS.  (a)  The executive director shall develop a career  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ladder program.  The program must require intra-agency postings of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        all non-entry level positions concurrently with any public posting. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The executive director shall develop a system of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employee performance evaluations.  The system must require that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        evaluations be conducted at least annually.  All merit pay for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department employees must be based on the system established under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this subsection. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.105.  AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENTS.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department may pay an employee additional compensation for duty  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        hours other than Monday through Friday normal business hours or for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the ability to legally carry weapons if required for the position.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The department shall adopt regulations to establish the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        classification, procedures, and amount of the additional  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation.  The department may make differential payments only  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if money is available to pay those amounts. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.106.  HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OF RECORDS AND  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        PROPERTY.  Except as provided by other law and in accordance with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        all applicable federal and state requirements, the department shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        preserve all historically significant military records or property  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the Texas Military Forces Museum. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.107.  REPORTS.  (a)  The department annually shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the legislature a complete and detailed written report accounting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for all funds received and disbursed by the department during the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        preceding fiscal year.  The report must be in the form and reported  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the time provided by the General Appropriations Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department shall provide to the governor in December  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of each even-numbered year: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  an account of all arms, ammunition, and other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military property owned by or in possession of this state and its  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        present condition; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a statement of the number, condition, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        organization of the Texas military forces; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  suggestions important to the military interests  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and conditions of this state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  a list and description of all Texas military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces missions that are in progress; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  a statement of department plans to obtain and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maintain future Texas National Guard missions, including proposed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        missions that are consistent with the United States Department of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Defense's strategies. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Information relating to any current, proposed, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        planned mission that the adjutant general considers to be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        classified or sensitive in nature is exempt from the reporting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        requirement of Subsection (b). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.108.  TECHNOLOGY POLICY.  The department shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        develop and implement a policy requiring the executive director and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department's employees to research and propose appropriate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        technological solutions to improve the department's ability to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        perform its functions.  The technological solutions must: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  ensure that the public is able to easily find  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information about the department on the Internet; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  ensure that persons who want to use the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department's services are able to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  interact with the department through the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Internet; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  access any service that can be provided  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effectively through the Internet; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  be cost-effective and developed through the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department's planning processes. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.109.  EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN STATE ACTIVITIES.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 2054  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        relating to the oversight of information resources and information  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resource manager provisions to the extent the National Guard Bureau  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the United States Department of Defense provide information  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        technology and communications support to the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a service member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        considered to be a temporary state employee is not considered to be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an employee of the department for the purpose of counting the number  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of full-time equivalent positions authorized for the department in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the General Appropriations Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.110.  POST EXCHANGES ON STATE MILITARY PROPERTY.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department may establish and contract for the operation of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not more than three military-type post exchanges similar to those  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        operated by the armed forces of the United States on any real  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property under the management and control of the department.  A post  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchange may sell, lease, or rent goods and services, including  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        firearms, tobacco products, prepared foods, and beer and wine but  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not distilled spirits.  The department may designate facilities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        located on state property to use for purposes of this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The adjutant general shall adopt regulations to govern  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        post exchanges established under this section that are similar to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the procedures, policies, and restrictions governing exchanges of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, including regulations that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        require an individual to show identification indicating the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        individual is qualified to buy, lease, or rent goods at the post  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchange. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department shall contract with a person to operate a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        post exchange created under this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  A post exchange may sell, lease, or rent goods and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services only to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  active, retired, and reserve members of the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        States armed services; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  active and retired members of the state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  full-time employees of the adjutant general's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  dependents of an individual described by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subsection. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The post exchange services account is a unit fund under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.211.  For purposes of Section 437.211, the commander is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the installation commander.  The post exchange services account is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exempt from the application of Sections 403.095 and 404.071.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        account consists of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  money received from the operation of post  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchanges created under this section; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  all interest attributable to money held in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        account. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  A post exchange created under this section may sell  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        goods and services, including beer and wine but not distilled  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        spirits, for off-premises consumption if the operator of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchange holds the appropriate license or permit issued by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.  The licensee or permittee  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall comply in all respects with the Alcoholic Beverage Code and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the rules of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  Chapter 94, Human Resources Code, does not apply to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        vending facilities operated at a post exchange. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.111.  DONATIONS.  (a)  Except as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsections (d) and (e), all money paid to the department under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        chapter is subject to Subchapter F, Chapter 404. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department may accept funds, property, or services  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        donated by any public or private entity, including: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a state agency or department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a political subdivision, including a county,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality, or public school district; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  a special purpose district or authority. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        donations from any private or public entity to support the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces or the Texas Military Forces Museum and may spend  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the proceeds consistent with donor limitations and for the use of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas military forces, the museum, or the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The department may accept a donation or transfer of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        funds from the federal government directly or through another  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        agency or from an agency or political subdivision of this state.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The funds shall be deposited with the comptroller.  The funds may be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        used for the legal purposes of the department as provided in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        donation or transfer.  The comptroller shall make payments from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        funds on a properly drawn warrant issued by the comptroller on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        request of the adjutant general and approval of the governor under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rules adopted by the comptroller. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  A unit may accept funds for the benefit of a particular  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military unit in a unit fund as prescribed in Section 437.211. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.112.  INFORMATION OF INTEREST; COMPLAINTS.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department shall prepare information of public interest  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        describing the functions of the department and the procedures by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which complaints are filed with and resolved by the department.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department shall make the information available to the public and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appropriate state agencies. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The adjutant general shall adopt policies to establish  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        methods for notifying the public and members of the Texas National  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard of the department's name, mailing address, and telephone  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        number for the purpose of directing complaints to the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department shall maintain a file on each written  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complaint filed with the department.  The file must include: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the name of the person who filed the complaint; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the date the complaint is received by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the subject matter of the complaint; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the name of each person contacted in connection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with the complaint; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  a summary of the results of the review or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        investigation of the complaint; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  an explanation of the reason the file was closed,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if the department closed the file without taking action other than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to investigate the complaint. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The department shall provide to the person filing the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complaint and to each person who is the subject of the complaint a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        copy of the department's policies and procedures relating to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complaint investigation and resolution unless the notice would  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        jeopardize an undercover investigation. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The department, at least quarterly until final  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        disposition of the complaint, shall notify the person filing the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complaint and each person who is the subject of the complaint of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        status of the investigation unless the notice would jeopardize an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        undercover investigation. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.113.  ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department shall develop and implement a policy to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        procedures under Chapter 2009 to assist in the resolution of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        internal and external disputes within the department's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        jurisdiction. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department's procedures relating to alternative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        agencies. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department shall designate a trained person to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  coordinate the implementation of the policy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adopted under Subsection (a); | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  serve as a resource for any training needed to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        implement the procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dispute resolution; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  collect data concerning the effectiveness of those  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        procedures, as implemented by the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.114.  SUPPLIES.  (a)  The department may purchase  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from money appropriated to the department and keep ready for use,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        store, or issue a necessary amount of ordnance, subsistence,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        medical, signal, engineering, and other supplies. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department may dispose of or exchange supplies owned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by this state that are unfit for further use as the department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determines is in the best interest of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department shall provide each state military unit  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with the arms, equipment, instruction and record books, and other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supplies necessary for performance of the duties required of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unit by this chapter.  The unit shall keep the property in proper  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        repair and good condition.  The department may execute bonds in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        name of this state as necessary to obtain this property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.115.  BIDS.  The department shall adopt rules  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governing the preparation, submission, and opening of bids for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        contracts. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.116.  PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY.  The department shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comply with federal and state laws related to program  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accessibility.  The department shall also prepare and maintain a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        written plan that describes how a person who does not speak English  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        can be provided reasonable access to the department's programs and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.117.  TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY.  (a)  For each  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        student enrolled in the Texas ChalleNGe Academy, the department is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to allotments from the Foundation School Program under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 42, Education Code, as if the academy were a school district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        without a tier one local share for purposes of Section 42.253,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Education Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department shall contract with an appropriate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        school district for the provision of educational services for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        students enrolled in the academy.  The school district with which  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the department contracts shall be responsible for ensuring  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compliance with any applicable regulatory requirements imposed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under the Education Code and enforced by the commissioner of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        education and the Texas Education Agency. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.118.  USE OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT MILITARY HOUSING AND  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        TRAINING.  (a)  The department may use appropriated money to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purchase food and beverages for charged military housing and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training functions required of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department shall maintain and operate charged  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military housing in accordance with policies and regulations  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adopted by the adjutant general and published on the department's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Internet website.  The department shall deposit room fees in a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        billeting account. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER D.  REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.151.  REAL PROPERTY ADVISORY COUNCIL.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        real property advisory council is composed of the following eight  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        members: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  two deputy adjutants general; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the executive director; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  five public members who are not actively serving  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the Texas National Guard and who have experience in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        architecture, construction management, engineering, property  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        management, facilities maintenance management, real estate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services, or real property law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The public members of the advisory council are appointed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to staggered three-year terms by the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The adjutant general shall adopt regulations specifying  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the requirements, term limits, and expectations for the advisory  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        council. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The adjutant general shall designate one of the public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        members of the advisory council as the presiding officer of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        advisory council to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The director of the facilities management office is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        responsible for administration and coordination of council  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        meetings and preparation of materials with input from the council  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        membership. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The council shall meet at least two times each fiscal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        year to advise the department on: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the facility master plan; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the long-range construction plan; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the selection of architecture and engineering  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        firms; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  requests for bonding authority for state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  the disposal or sale of department property; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  surface leases of department property; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  natural resources management plans; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  environmental studies and agreements. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  Each public member of the advisory council is entitled  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to a per diem as provided by the General Appropriations Act for each  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        day that the member engages in the business of the council. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  Each member of the advisory council is entitled to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reimbursement for meals, lodging, transportation, and incidental  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        expenses: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  under the rules for reimbursement that apply to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the member's office or employment, if the member is a state officer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or employee; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  as provided by the General Appropriations Act if  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the member is not a state officer or employee. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  The advisory council is not subject to Chapter 2110. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.152.  PUBLIC COMMENT.  The advisory council shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        develop and implement policies that provide the public with a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reasonable opportunity to at least annually appear before the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        council and speak on any issue related to the construction, repair,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and maintenance of Texas military forces armories, facilities, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        improvements under the jurisdiction of the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.153.  BORROWING MONEY; ISSUING AND SELLING BONDS.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department may borrow money in the amount and under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        circumstances allowed by the Texas Constitution and may request the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Public Finance Authority, on behalf of the department, to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issue and sell fully negotiable bonds to acquire, construct,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        remodel, repair, or equip one or more facilities. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The Texas Public Finance Authority may sell the bonds in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        any manner it determines to be in the best interest of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department, except that it may not sell a bond that has not been  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approved by the attorney general and registered with the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.154.  REPORT OF MILITARY USE OF PROPERTY.  (a)  If  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the department receives notice from the General Land Office as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Section 31.156, Natural Resources Code, the department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall produce a report evaluating the military use of any real  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property under the management and control of the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Not later than August 1 of the year in which the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioner of the General Land Office submits a report as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Section 31.157, Natural Resources Code, the department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall submit a preliminary report of the report required under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (a) to the commissioner of the General Land Office  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        identifying the real property used for military purposes.  Not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        later than September 1 of the year in which the commissioner of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        General Land Office submits a report as provided by Section 31.157,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Natural Resources Code, the department shall submit the final  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        report as required by Subsection (a) to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the governor; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the presiding officer of each house of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        legislature; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the Legislative Budget Board; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the governor's budget office. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.155.  ACQUISITION; MANAGEMENT; PLEDGE OF RENTS,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ISSUES, AND PROFITS.  (a)  The department by gift, lease, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purchase may acquire real property, including leasehold estates in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        real property, for any purpose the department considers necessary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the use of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department may acquire furniture and equipment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        suitable for facility purposes by gift, purchase, or construction. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The department may: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  hold, manage, or maintain the property; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  after the analysis required under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.163(b), if applicable, lease or sell the property; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  pledge all or part of the rents, issues, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        profits of the property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The department may own and operate or contract with a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        vendor to provide temporary lodging facilities for use of military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and retired military personnel.  The department shall publish  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information on the department's Internet website outlining the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        operation, use, and fee structure for temporary lodging facilities.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Out of the money received for operating the temporary lodging  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities, the department may procure the necessary furnishings,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        goods, and services to manage and operate the temporary lodging  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The adjutant general, deputy adjutant general for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        air, and deputy adjutant general for the army may reside in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state-owned housing and are exempt from paying housing costs.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department may allocate existing department housing to other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department employees who demonstrate a need based on location and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        job description at a rate in accordance with the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The department shall deposit proceeds from any land  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        lease or other revenue under this section, other than daily fee  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deposits that qualify as unit funds, into the state treasury to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        credit of the department for the use and benefit of the facilities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the Texas military forces.  If any part of these funds remains  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unexpended and unobligated at the end of the state fiscal year, that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount is dedicated for the same purposes in the subsequent year.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Money in the fund may not be diverted for any other purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.156.  CONSTRUCTION; FURNISHING AND EQUIPMENT.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The department may construct buildings on real property held  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the department in fee simple or otherwise.  The department may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        furnish and equip the buildings. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department may construct a building on land  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comprising a site licensed or otherwise provided to this state by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the federal government.  If the department constructs a building on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that site, the site becomes the property of the department for all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purposes of this chapter as if the site had been acquired by gift to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or purchase by the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Department buildings that are constructed or undergoing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        major renovations must include information distribution system  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provisions in the contract. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.157.  LEASE OF PROPERTY.  (a)  In this section,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        "lease" includes a sublease. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  After the analysis required under Section 437.163(b),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if applicable, the department may lease property to any person. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The law requiring notice and competitive bids does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        apply to a lease under this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.158.  TRANSFER TO STATE.  When property that the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Public Finance Authority owns in accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.159 is fully paid for and free of liens and all obligations  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        incurred in connection with the acquisition and construction of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property have been fully paid, the Texas Public Finance Authority  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall donate and transfer the property to the department by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appropriate instruments of transfer.  The instruments of transfer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall be kept in the custody of the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.159.  PROPERTY FINANCED BY BONDS.  Notwithstanding  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        any other provision of this chapter, property used by this state for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military purposes that was acquired, constructed, remodeled, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        repaired using money from bonds and that has not yet been  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        transferred under Section 437.158 is owned by the Texas Public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Finance Authority and a reference to the department in this chapter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in relation to that ownership means the Texas Public Finance  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Authority until the property is transferred. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.160.  DONATION OF PROPERTY.  The governing body of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county or municipality, on behalf of the county or municipality,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may donate real property to the department for use as a Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces facility.  The donation may be in fee simple or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        otherwise. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.161.  TAX STATUS OF PROPERTY.  Property held by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department and rents, issues, and profits from the property are  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exempt from taxation by the state, a municipality, a county or other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        political subdivision, or a taxing district of this state. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.162.  FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY.  The department for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        new facility construction shall comply with federal and state laws  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        related to facility accessibility. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.163.  DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  When department property that is owned or transferred to this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state is fully paid for and free of liens incurred in connection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with the acquisition and construction of the property, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department may, after conducting the analysis required under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section, if applicable, properly dispose of the property that is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        designated by the adjutant general as surplus. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Before granting or conveying an interest in real  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property under this subchapter, the department must conduct an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        analysis to determine whether the disposal of property is in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        best interests of the Texas military forces and evaluate whether  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        each unit of the Texas military forces has adequate facility space  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to ensure that ongoing operations are maintained. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  To accomplish the purposes of Subsection (a), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department may remove, dismantle, or sever any of the property or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authorize its removal, dismantling, or severance. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  If property under this section is designated as surplus,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the department may sell the property to the highest and best bidder  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for cash using either sealed bid or public auction.  The department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may reject any or all bids.  If the site is considered historical,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the department may evaluate other factors relating to ensuring the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        long-term care of the site when selecting the winning bidder. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  If property under this section is designated for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchange, the department may exchange the property for one or more  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        parcels of land equal to or exceeding the value of the property to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        be exchanged. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  A sale, deed, or exchange made under this section must  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reserve to this state a one-sixteenth mineral interest free of cost  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of production. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  The department may: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  reconvey to the original grantor or donor all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rights, title, and interests, including mineral interests, to all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or part of the land conveyed by that person; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  convey to the original grantor or donor, on a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        negotiated basis at fair market value, improvements constructed on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the land reconveyed. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  The department shall deposit proceeds of sales under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section in the state treasury to the credit of the department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the use and benefit of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER E.  TEXAS MILITARY FORCES | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.201.  CERTIFICATION OF MILITARY UNITS.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general shall issue each unit a certificate stating that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the unit has been duly organized according to the laws and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regulations of the Texas military forces and is entitled to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rights, powers, privileges, amenities, and immunities conferred by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        law and military regulation.  The certificate is evidence in a state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court that the unit is duly incorporated. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.202.  LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS AND  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        EMPLOYEES.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person who is an officer or employee of this state, a municipality,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a county, or another political subdivision of this state and who is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a member of the Texas military forces, a reserve component of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        armed forces, or a member of a state or federally authorized urban  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        search and rescue team is entitled to a paid leave of absence from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the person's duties on a day on which the person is engaged in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authorized training or duty ordered or authorized by proper  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authority for not more than 15 workdays in a fiscal year.  During a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        leave of absence, the person may not be subjected to loss of time,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        efficiency rating, personal time, sick leave, or vacation time. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  An officer or employee of this state is entitled to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        carry forward from one fiscal year to the next the net balance of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unused accumulated leave under Subsection (a) that does not exceed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        45 workdays. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A member of the legislature is entitled to pay for all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        days that the member is absent from a session of the legislature and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        engaged in training or duty as provided by Subsection (a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  A state employee who is a member of the Texas military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces, a reserve component of the armed forces, or a member of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state or federally authorized urban search and rescue team and who  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is ordered to duty by proper authority is entitled, when relieved  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from duty, to be restored to the position that the employee held  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        when ordered to duty. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.203.  DUAL OFFICE HOLDING.  A position in or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        membership in the Texas military forces is not considered to be a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        civil office of emolument. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.204.  REEMPLOYMENT OF SERVICE MEMBER CALLED TO  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        TRAINING OR DUTY.  (a)  An employer may not terminate the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employment of an employee who is a member of the state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces of this state or any other state because the employee is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ordered to authorized training or duty by a proper authority.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employee is entitled to return to the same employment held when  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ordered to training or duty and may not be subjected to loss of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        time, efficiency rating, vacation time, or any benefit of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employment during or because of the absence.  The employee, as soon  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as practicable after release from duty, must give written or actual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        notice of intent to return to employment. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A violation of this section is an unlawful employment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practice.  A person injured by a violation of this section may file  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission civil rights  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        division under Subchapter I. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.205.  OATH.  (a)  A commissioned officer of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas military forces may administer oaths for purposes of military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        administration.  The officer's signature, without seal, and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        title of the officer's assignment is prima facie evidence of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer's authority. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A person appointed, enlisted, or drafted in the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces shall take and subscribe an oath prescribed by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.206.  COMMISSIONS.  (a)  An initial state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commission in the Texas military forces must be: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  in the name and by authority of this state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  sealed with the state seal; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  signed by the governor and attested by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        secretary of state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  recorded by the Texas military forces; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  conferred without fee. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  On the recommendation of the commanding officer or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        noncommissioned officer of the Texas military forces, the governor  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may confer on the officer or noncommissioned officer a brevet of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        grade higher than the ordinary commission or brevet held by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer or noncommissioned officer for gallant conduct or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        meritorious military service.  The adjutant general shall specify  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the criteria for gallant conduct or meritorious military service. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The governor may confer on an officer in active service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in the Texas military forces who has previously served in the forces  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the United States during a war a brevet of a grade equal to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        highest grade in which the officer previously served. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  A commission under Subsection (b) or (c) carries only  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the privileges or rights allowed for similar commissions in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military service of the United States. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The governor, without examination, may appoint and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        confer a brevet of second lieutenant on an enlisted service member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        who has served well and faithfully in the Texas military forces for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        25 years or more.  The service member shall immediately be placed on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the retired list. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  The governor may delegate the powers granted by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.207.  MILITARY UNIT AS CORPORATE BODY.  (a)  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military unit in the Texas military forces is, from the time of its  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        creation, a body politic and corporate and may: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  take, purchase, own, hold, transfer, pledge, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        convey under its corporate name property of a total value, when  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        acquired, of not more than $200,000; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecute and defend in court under its corporate name; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  have and use a common seal in a form it adopts; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  adopt bylaws to govern and regulate its affairs,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        consistent with state law and United States law and the orders and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regulations of the governor; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  otherwise act as necessary and proper to carry out  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        its purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The officers of the unit are its directors.  The senior  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer is its president. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The power of a unit to hold or handle property is not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        affected by a natural increase in the property's value after it is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        acquired. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.208.  ORGANIZATION PROHIBITED.  (a)  Except as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Subsection (b), a body of persons other than the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regularly organized Texas military forces, the armed forces of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        United States, or the active militia of another state may not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        associate as a military company or organization or parade in public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with firearms in a municipality of the state. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  With the consent of the governor, students in an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        educational institution at which military science is a prescribed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        part of the course of instruction may drill and perform ceremonies  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with firearms in public.  The governor may delegate the powers  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        granted by this subsection to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.209.  FOREIGN TROOPS.  A military force from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        another state, territory, or district, except a force that is on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        federal orders and acting as a part of the United States armed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces, may not enter this state without the permission of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor.  The governor may delegate the powers granted by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.210.  INTERFERENCE WITH TEXAS MILITARY FORCES.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  A person commits an offense if the person physically and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        intentionally hinders, delays, or obstructs or intentionally  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        attempts to hinder, delay, or obstruct a portion of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces on active duty in performance of a military duty. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class B  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        misdemeanor. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The commanding officer of a portion of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces parading or performing a military duty in a street  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or highway may require a person in the street or highway to yield  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the right-of-way to the forces, except that the commanding officer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may not interfere with the carrying of the United States mail, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        legitimate function of the police, or the progress or operation of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an emergency medical services provider or fire department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  During an occasion of duty, a commanding officer may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        detain a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  trespasses on a place of duty; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  interrupts or molests the orderly discharge of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty by those under orders; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  disturbs or prevents the passage of troops going  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to or coming from duty. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The commanding officer shall make a reasonable effort to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forward detained individuals to civil authorities as soon as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practicable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.211.  MANAGEMENT OF UNIT FUNDS.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commanding officer of each unit is the custodian of the unit fund.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The commanding officer shall: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  receive, keep, properly disburse, and document the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        use of the money in the fund; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  submit to the department an itemized statement of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        money received and disbursed during the preceding reporting period: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  on September 1 of each year; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  when there is a change of the commanding  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer of the unit. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The unit fund consists of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  donations made to the fund; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  rental income from state facilities under the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        management of the unit that are leased for less than three days; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  revenue received from the sale of goods or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services to members of the unit and visitors; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  depository interest and investment income earned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on amounts in the fund. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A unit fund is a special fund held outside the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        treasury to be administered by the commanding officer of the unit  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        without further appropriation.  A unit fund is not subject to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 2256.  The department shall develop policies and procedures  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        concerning the administration of the funds.  If any part of the fund  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        remains unexpended and unobligated at the end of the state fiscal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        year, that amount is dedicated for the same purposes in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subsequent year.  Money in the fund may not be diverted for any  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Chapter 94, Human Resources Code, does not apply to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        vending facilities operated for the benefit of a unit fund. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.212.  PAY AND BENEFITS FOR STATE ACTIVE DUTY, STATE  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        TRAINING, AND OTHER DUTY.  (a)  This state may make suitable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provision for the pay, transportation, subsistence, and housing of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service members on state active duty or state training and other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty as necessary to accomplish the mission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Pay and benefits received by service members of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas military forces under this chapter are not a gratuity, but are  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation for services provided as a condition of membership in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Service members who are state employees when called by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proper authority into a state active duty status or for state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training and other duty status are entitled to the regular benefits  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by the employing agency and a paid leave of absence as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Section 437.202. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  A service member who is not a state employee when called  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by proper authority into a state active duty status or state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training and other duty status becomes a temporary state employee  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        when in this status and is limited to the benefits specified in this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        chapter.  A temporary state employee status does not apply to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member who is a federal civil servant or on active guard  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reserve status, including a member serving on orders issued under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Title 10 or 32, United States Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  A service member compensated under this section is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        eligible for state workers' compensation coverage under Chapter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        501, Labor Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  A volunteer in the Texas State Guard who is not a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        full-time or part-time state employee and who has been on state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        active duty or on state training or other duty for more than 90 days  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is eligible to participate in the state group benefits program  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, to purchase health or dental  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        insurance coverage, subject to the following requirements: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the participant must be a member of the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard at the time of enrollment in the group benefits program; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the participant must pay the full cost of health or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dental insurance coverage under the group benefits program and may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not receive a state contribution for premiums; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  an application under this subsection for group  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        benefit health or dental insurance coverage must be submitted in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with procedures established by the Employees Retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        System of Texas. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  The adjutant general and the Employees Retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        System of Texas shall coordinate and consult to implement the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        benefits program provided by Subsection (f) and shall adopt a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        memorandum of understanding to establish: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the procedures that a member of the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard may use to elect to participate in the state group benefits  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        program; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  an appropriate method to annually confirm  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        continuing eligibility to participate in the group benefits  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        program. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  A service member who is on active guard reserve status,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including a member serving on orders issued under Title 10 or 32,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        United States Code, may not receive state active duty pay or state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training and other duty pay. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  A service member who is a federal technician in a paid  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        status may not receive state active duty pay or pay for state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training and other duty unless the member is on a military leave or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        leave without pay status from the federal employment. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.213.  CERTAIN BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS FOR STATE  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SERVICE.  A service member of the Texas military forces who is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ordered to state active duty or to state training and other duty by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the governor, the adjutant general, or another proper authority  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under the law of this state is entitled to the same benefits and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        protections provided to persons: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  performing service in the uniformed services as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by 38 U.S.C. Sections 4301-4313 and 4316-4319, as that law  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        existed on April 1, 2003; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  in the military service of the United States as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by 50 App. U.S.C. Sections 501-536, 560, and 580-594, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that law existed on April 1, 2003. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.214.  MILITARY FUNERALS AND HONORS.  (a)  On the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        request of a person listed in Subsection (b), the Texas military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces may provide a military funeral and honor service for a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        decedent who served in the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The following persons may request a military funeral and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        honor service from the Texas military forces: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the decedent's spouse; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the decedent's adult children, if there is no  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        spouse; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the decedent's parents, if there is no spouse or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adult child; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the decedent's brothers or sisters, if there is no  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        spouse, adult child, or parent; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  the executor or administrator of the decedent's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        estate, if there is no spouse, adult child, parent, or brother or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sister. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A service member is not eligible for a military funeral  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and honor service under this section if the service member is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        eligible for a military funeral and honor service under federal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The Texas military forces shall model the military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        funeral and honor service after the service provided by the federal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        government. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.215.  GRAVE MARKERS FOR STATE MILITARY PERSONNEL.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  On the request of a person listed in Subsection (b), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department shall provide a grave marker for a decedent who served in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The grave marker may be requested from the department by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a person described by Section 437.214(b). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A service member is not eligible for a grave marker  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this section if the service member is eligible for a grave  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marker under federal law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The department shall model the grave markers after the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        grave markers provided by the federal government. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The department shall publish information about its  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        grave marker program on the department's Internet website. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.216.  SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM.  (a)  The Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces shall develop a program to provide referrals to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service members for reintegration services. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The program shall: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  identify and make referrals to community-based  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        organizations that have existing programs that provide  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reintegration services to service members and their families; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  focus on early intervention and appropriate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        referral to promote the health of service members and the children  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and other family members of the service members; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  promote family cohesion and sustainability; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  be based on evidence-based best practices related  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to meeting the needs of service members and the children and other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        family members of the service members; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  be provided, when appropriate, in a community  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        setting through peer counseling and other means effective for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        community outreach; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  use existing service delivery facilities,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including churches, National Guard Bureau family education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        facilities, and veterans centers and support facilities; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  use community-based and faith-based  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        organizations; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  be developed and administered in a manner that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        promotes collaboration of service providers and results in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        referral of service members, their children, and other family  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        members to the appropriate federal, state, and community services  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for which they are eligible; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (9)  provide information and referral services  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regarding the risks and consequences of trauma, including  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        conditions for which service members are at risk. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The Texas military forces shall ensure that: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  each person who provides referrals to service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        members under the referral program has received sufficient training  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to ensure that service members receive accurate information; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  service members are notified in a timely manner  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        about the service referral program. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  In developing the referral program, the Texas military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces shall consult with the National Guard Bureau, the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        States Veterans Health Administration, the Health and Human  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Services Commission, the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Medicine, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Antonio. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.217.  EXEMPTION FROM FEES FOR DEPLOYED MILITARY  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        PERSONNEL.  (a)  A member of the National Guard on federal active  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty, or a member of the armed forces of the United States on active  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty, who is preparing to be deployed to serve in a hostile fire  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        zone as designated by the United States secretary of defense is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exempt from paying the following state or local governmental fees  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the member incurs because of the deployment to arrange the member's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        personal affairs: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  fees for obtaining copies of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  a birth certificate; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  a recorded marriage license; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  a divorce decree; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (D)  a child support order; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (E)  guardianship documents; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (F)  property tax records; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  fees for issuing a marriage license or duplicate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marriage license; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  fees for transferring title to real or personal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The governmental entity responsible for collecting a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fee described by Subsection (a) may rely on a letter issued by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commander of the service member's unit for purposes of providing an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exemption under Subsection (a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.218.  TAX EXEMPTION.  (a)  An officer or enlisted  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member in the Texas military forces who complies with the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member's military duties as prescribed by this chapter is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exempt from payment of a road or street tax. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  To obtain the exemption, a service member must file in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the county tax assessor-collector's office an affidavit, sworn to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before a notary public or other person authorized to administer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        oaths in this state, in the following form: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               "I, __________, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I am a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member in good standing of the Texas military forces of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        State of Texas. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Subscribed to and sworn to before me this ______ day of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        __________, ______ | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SEAL | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                                   ________________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                                   ________________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                                   Notary Public in and for | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                                   __________ County, Texas" | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The county tax assessor-collector may rely on a letter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issued by the commander of the service member's unit for purposes of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        providing the exemption under this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.219.  COMPENSATION.  (a)  Except as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.220, a member of the Texas military forces who performs  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training or other military duty under authority of the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        States Code may not receive pay or allowances from this state for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that duty. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  When orders are issued for state active duty or state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training or other duty, a National Guard service member of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces performing the duty or training is entitled, during  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the period of the duty or training, to receive pay and allowances as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by law for the United States armed forces.  Pay is a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        stipend for duty or training and is salary or base pay.  The pay may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not be reduced because of food, shelter, or transportation that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this state pays or furnishes in connection with the duty or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The adjutant general shall set the daily pay rate and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        allowance rate for state active duty and for state training and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other duty for Texas State Guard service members called to duty or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training under this chapter.  The rate established by the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general may not exceed the meal and lodging rate set by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller by more than $25 per day.  The department shall publish  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information about the established pay rates on the department's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Internet website. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Duty or training by volunteers in the Texas State Guard  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        without pay is considered for insurance and state coverage purposes  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as if it were duty or training for pay. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.220.  SUPPLEMENTAL DUTY PAY FOR ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.   | 
      
      
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        (a)  A person who is called to military duty as a member of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas National Guard in the service of this state or the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        States by proper federal or state authority and who suffers an  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        economic hardship as a result of serving on military duty is  | 
      
      
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        eligible to receive supplemental pay for serving in accordance with  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        this section.  Payment under this subsection is subject to the  | 
      
      
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        availability of funds. | 
      
      
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               (b)  The comptroller shall establish the Texas National  | 
      
      
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        Guard members' supplemental military duty pay account in the  | 
      
      
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        general revenue fund.  Money in the account may be appropriated only  | 
      
      
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        for purposes of implementing this section.  The comptroller,  | 
      
      
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        governor, or adjutant general may accept gifts and grants for  | 
      
      
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        deposit to the credit of the account.  The legislature may transfer  | 
      
      
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        money into the account or may appropriate money to implement this  | 
      
      
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        section and the comptroller shall credit that money to the account. | 
      
      
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               (c)  A member of the Texas National Guard described by  | 
      
      
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        Subsection (a) is eligible to receive supplemental pay under this  | 
      
      
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        section in an amount not to exceed the lesser of: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  the amount required to alleviate the economic  | 
      
      
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        hardship the member suffers as a result of serving on active duty;  | 
      
      
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        and | 
      
      
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                     (2)  the difference between the amount of income that  | 
      
      
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        the member has lost from civilian employment as a result of being  | 
      
      
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        called to military duty and the amount of military pay and  | 
      
      
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        allowances the member receives from state or federal sources while  | 
      
      
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        on military duty. | 
      
      
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               (d)  The adjutant general shall determine whether a member is  | 
      
      
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        eligible to receive supplemental pay under this section and the  | 
      
      
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        amount of supplemental pay a member may receive.  In determining the  | 
      
      
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        amount, the adjutant general shall consider the total amount that  | 
      
      
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        is available for supplemental pay during a period and the probable  | 
      
      
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        total need for supplemental pay during that period. | 
      
      
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               (e)  The adjutant general may adopt regulations to implement  | 
      
      
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        this section, including regulations that prescribe the procedure  | 
      
      
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        for requesting supplemental pay and that prescribe evidence a  | 
      
      
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        member may or must present to demonstrate hardship.  The  | 
      
      
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        comptroller, in consultation with the adjutant general, may adopt  | 
      
      
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        rules to govern the manner and method of paying supplemental pay  | 
      
      
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        under this section. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.221.  OTHER DUTY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MISSIONS.   | 
      
      
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        The governor or the adjutant general, if designated by the  | 
      
      
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        governor, may require other duty for officers and enlisted persons  | 
      
      
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        in the Texas military forces.  The other duty may include community  | 
      
      
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        service missions. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.222.  LIABILITY OF SERVICE MEMBER.  (a)  A service  | 
      
      
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        member of the Texas military forces ordered into service of this  | 
      
      
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        state by proper authority is not personally liable in the person's  | 
      
      
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        private capacity for any act performed or for any contract or other  | 
      
      
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        obligation entered into or undertaken in an official capacity in  | 
      
      
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        good faith and without intent to defraud in connection with the  | 
      
      
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        administration, management, or conduct of the department in  | 
      
      
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        business, programs, or other related affairs, under the limited  | 
      
      
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        waiver of governmental immunity provided by the Texas Tort Claims  | 
      
      
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        Act (Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code). | 
      
      
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               (b)  If a suit is instituted against a service member of the  | 
      
      
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        Texas military forces for an act of the service member in the  | 
      
      
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        service member's official capacity in the discharge of duty or  | 
      
      
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        against a person acting under the authority, order, or lawfully  | 
      
      
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        issued warrant of the service member, the court shall require the  | 
      
      
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        plaintiff to file security for the payment of court costs that may  | 
      
      
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        be awarded to the defendant.  The defendant in the case may make a  | 
      
      
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        general denial and give the special matter in evidence.  If the  | 
      
      
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        plaintiff is nonsuited or the verdict or judgment is against the  | 
      
      
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        plaintiff, the defendant is entitled to recover three times the  | 
      
      
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        court costs. | 
      
      
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               (c)  If a service member of the Texas military forces is sued  | 
      
      
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        for injury to a person or property occurring in the performance of  | 
      
      
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        or an attempt to perform a duty required by law, the court shall  | 
      
      
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        remove venue of the case to a court in another county not subject to  | 
      
      
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        disqualification if: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  the defendant applies for the removal; and | 
      
      
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                     (2)  the application is supported by affidavit of two  | 
      
      
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        credible persons stating that they have good reason to believe the  | 
      
      
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        defendant cannot have a fair and impartial trial before the court. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.223.  EXEMPTION FROM ARREST.  (a)  A member of the  | 
      
      
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        Texas military forces may not be arrested, except for treason,  | 
      
      
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        felony, or breach of the peace, while the person is going to or  | 
      
      
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        coming from a place that the person was required to be for military  | 
      
      
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        duty. | 
      
      
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               (b)  This section does not prevent a peace officer from  | 
      
      
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        issuing a traffic summons or citation to appear in court at a later  | 
      
      
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        date that does not conflict with the member's duty hours. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.224.  VOTING.  (a)  A unit, force, division, or  | 
      
      
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        command of the Texas military forces that is engaged in regular  | 
      
      
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        training on a day on which a primary, general, or special election  | 
      
      
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        for a state or federal office is held shall provide time off or  | 
      
      
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        arrange duty hours to permit all personnel to vote in the election. | 
      
      
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               (b)  This section does not apply during war, invasion,  | 
      
      
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        insurrection, riot, or tumult, during imminent danger of one of  | 
      
      
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        those situations, or during annual active duty for training not  | 
      
      
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        exceeding 15 days. | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.225.  DISCHARGE.  (a)  A service member may be  | 
      
      
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        discharged from the Texas military forces according to regulations  | 
      
      
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        adopted by the adjutant general or by federal law or regulations. | 
      
      
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               (b)  On termination of the appointment of an officer or  | 
      
      
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        enlistment of an enlisted service member in the Texas military  | 
      
      
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        forces, the officer or enlisted service member shall be given a  | 
      
      
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        certificate of discharge stating the character of the person's  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        service. | 
      
      
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			 | 
               Sec. 437.226.  ASSISTANCE FOR TUITION AND FEES.  (a)  In  | 
      
      
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        this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or  | 
      
      
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        independent institution of higher education" have the meanings  | 
      
      
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        assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | 
      
      
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               (b)  To be eligible for assistance for tuition and mandatory  | 
      
      
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        fees under this section, a person must: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  be a service member in good standing, as certified  | 
      
      
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        by the adjutant general, of the Texas military forces who is: | 
      
      
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                           (A)  an enlisted member; | 
      
      
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                           (B)  a warrant officer of a grade from Warrant  | 
      
      
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        Officer One through Chief Warrant Officer Three; or | 
      
      
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                           (C)  a commissioned officer of a grade from Second  | 
      
      
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        Lieutenant through Lieutenant Colonel; and | 
      
      
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                     (2)  meet any additional qualification established by  | 
      
      
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        the adjutant general to carry out the purposes of this section or to  | 
      
      
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        further the institutional needs of the Texas military forces. | 
      
      
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               (c)  The adjutant general shall grant assistance for tuition  | 
      
      
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        and mandatory fees under this section to eligible service members,  | 
      
      
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        in an amount not to exceed the amount provided in the General  | 
      
      
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        Appropriations Act.  The adjutant general may apportion the number  | 
      
      
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        of assistance awards among the components of the Texas military  | 
      
      
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        forces necessary to meet the recruitment and retention needs of  | 
      
      
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        those components.  The number of assistance awards made to members  | 
      
      
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        of the Texas State Guard may not exceed 30 for any semester unless  | 
      
      
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        the adjutant general finds a compelling need for additional awards  | 
      
      
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        to members of the Texas State Guard. | 
      
      
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               (d)  Assistance for tuition and mandatory fees may be awarded  | 
      
      
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        under this section for tuition and mandatory fees charged for any  | 
      
      
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        undergraduate or graduate course at an institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education or private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education, including a vocational or technical course. | 
      
      
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               (e)  A service member may not receive assistance for tuition  | 
      
      
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        under this section for more than 12 semester credit hours in any  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        semester. | 
      
      
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               (f)  A service member may not receive assistance for tuition  | 
      
      
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        and mandatory fees under this section for more than 5 academic years  | 
      
      
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        or 10 semesters, whichever occurs first for the service member. | 
      
      
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               (g)  Before each semester, the department must certify to the  | 
      
      
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        appropriate public and private institutions of higher education a  | 
      
      
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        list of the service members to whom the adjutant general has awarded  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        assistance for tuition and mandatory fees under this section for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that semester.  The amount of assistance awarded by the adjutant  | 
      
      
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        general under this section may not exceed the amount of money  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        available to fund the assistance awards. | 
      
      
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               (h)  From money appropriated for purposes of this section,  | 
      
      
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        the department shall authorize the comptroller to reimburse an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        institution of higher education in an amount equal to the amount of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the exemption from tuition and mandatory fees the institution  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        grants to a person under Section 54.345, Education Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
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               (i)  From money appropriated for purposes of this section,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
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        the department shall authorize the comptroller to make a grant to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member attending a private or independent institution of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        higher education to whom the adjutant general has awarded  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assistance for tuition and mandatory fees for the semester under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section.  The amount of a grant under this subsection is an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount equal to the average amount of reimbursement the department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        estimates will be paid per student for the same semester under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (h). | 
      
      
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               Sec. 437.227.  COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR INJURY.  A member of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas military forces who is on state active duty, on state  | 
      
      
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        training or other duty, or traveling to or from the member's duty  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        location and who is killed or injured while engaged in authorized  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty, training, or travel is entitled to receive compensation and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        protections under Title 5, Labor Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
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               Sec. 437.228.  ISSUANCE AND USE OF UNIFORM AND OTHER  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        MILITARY PROPERTY.  (a)  A service member to whom the department  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        issues a uniform or other military property shall give a receipt for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the uniform or property.  The adjutant general shall prescribe the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        manner in which the uniform and property shall be accounted for and  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        kept. | 
      
      
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			 | 
               (b)  The uniform or other property may be used only for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military purposes.  An officer or enlisted service member of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas military forces who is responsible for public property may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not lend the property for private use or permit it to be used for a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose for which it was not intended. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.229.  UNIFORM.  (a)  Except as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (b), the uniform of the officers and enlisted service  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        members of the Texas military forces is the uniform prescribed for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the United States armed forces with modifications that the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor, or adjutant general if delegated the authority, considers  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        necessary. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The uniforms of the officers and enlisted personnel of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas State Guard are the uniforms prescribed for the United  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        States armed forces with any modifications the governor, or the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general if delegated the authority by the governor,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        considers necessary to distinguish the Texas State Guard from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas National Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.230.  EXEMPTION FROM LEVY AND SALE.  Arms,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        equipment, clothing, and other military supplies issued by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department to units or service members of the Texas military forces  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for military purposes are exempt from levy and sale because of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        execution for debt or other legal proceedings. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.231.  SEIZURE.  (a)  On a finding by the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general that a person unlawfully possesses, and refuses or fails to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deliver up, arms, equipment, or other military property issued by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the department for use of the Texas military forces, the governor  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may by warrant command the sheriff of the county in which the person  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resides or is located to seize the arms, equipment, or other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military property and keep the property subject to the governor's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        further order.  The sheriff in executing the warrant may invoke the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        power of the county. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Each sheriff may collect military arms or property  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issued by the department that is liable to loss or in the hands of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unauthorized persons and safely keep the arms and property subject  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to order of the governor.  The sheriff shall make a report of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        collection to the governor.  The sheriff's official bond covers  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        faithful performance of duties under this subchapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER F.  TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.251.  COMPOSITION.  The Texas National Guard may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not exceed half of one percent of the population of the state except  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in case of war, insurrection, or invasion, the prevention of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        invasion, the suppression of riot, or the aiding of civil  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authorities to execute state law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.252.  LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE.  Funds, other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property, or services may be donated to a unit of the Texas National  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard by any public or private entity, including: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a state agency or department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a political subdivision, including a county,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality, or public school district; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  a special purpose district or authority. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.253.  PROPERTY FORFEITURE.  When the National Guard  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Counterdrug Program assists a federal law enforcement agency in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        enforcing drug laws, the National Guard Counterdrug Program is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        considered to be a law enforcement agency of this state for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose of participating in the sharing of property seized or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forfeited to the United States under federal law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.254.  EMPLOYEES IN TEXAS MILITARY FORCES; EMERGENCY  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        LEAVE.  (a)  A state employee called to state active duty as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member of the Texas military forces by the governor or other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appropriate authority in response to a natural or man-made disaster  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is entitled to receive paid emergency leave without loss of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military leave under Section 437.202 or annual leave. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A state employee called to federal active duty for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose of providing assistance to civil authorities in a declared  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        emergency or for training for that purpose is entitled to receive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        paid emergency leave for not more than 22 workdays without loss of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military leave under Section 437.202 or annual leave. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The duty or training under Subsection (b) does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        include duty or training carried out under Section 437.202. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER G.  TEXAS STATE GUARD | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.301.  COMMANDER.  The commander of the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard is responsible: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  for the welfare, strength, and management of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  for the organization, training, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        administration of all Texas State Guard components; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  to the adjutant general to ensure the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard missions remain relevant and responsive as a force provider  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to this state; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  to field and staff the volunteer components of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.302.  COMPOSITION.  (a)  The Texas State Guard is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        composed of units the governor, or adjutant general if delegated  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the authority, considers advisable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  To serve in the Texas State Guard, a person: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  must be a resident of this state for at least 180  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        days; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  must be a citizen of the United States or a person  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 1101 et seq.); | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  must be at least 18 years of age and not older than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        70 years of age; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  must undergo a criminal history check; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  must not be a registered sex offender; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  must be acceptable to and approved by the governor  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or adjutant general under the governor's direction. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.303.  GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY.  (a)  The governor has  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        full control and authority over the Texas State Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The governor may adopt regulations governing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        enlistment, organization, administration, uniforms, equipment,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maintenance, command, training, and discipline of the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard.  The regulations to the extent practicable and desirable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        must conform to law and regulations governing the Texas National  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The governor may delegate the powers granted by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section to the adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.304.  ASSISTANCE.  (a)  Funds or other property or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services may be solicited by or donated to a unit in the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard by any public or private entity, including: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a state agency or department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a political subdivision, including a county,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        municipality, or public school district; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  a special purpose district or authority. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A public school district may permit the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard to use a school building. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The assistance solicited or received under this section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is governed by the policies and regulations adopted by the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.305.  EMPLOYEES IN STATE GUARD; EMERGENCY LEAVE.  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state employee called to state active duty as a member of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        State Guard by the governor or other appropriate authority in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        response to a natural or man-made disaster is entitled to receive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        paid emergency leave without loss of military leave under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.202 or annual leave. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.306.  USE OUTSIDE STATE; FRESH PURSUIT FROM OR INTO  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        STATE.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard may not be required to serve outside the state. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The governor, on request of the governor of another  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state, may order all or part of the Texas State Guard to assist a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military or civil authority of that state in defending that state.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The governor may recall these forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  If authorized by the law of another state, an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        organization, unit, or detachment of the Texas State Guard, on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        order of the officer in immediate command, may continue in fresh  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        pursuit of an insurrectionist, a saboteur, an enemy, or enemy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces into that state until the apprehension or capture of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person or forces pursued or until military or police forces of that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state or the United States have had a reasonable opportunity to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        apprehend, capture, or take up the pursuit of the person or forces.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The Texas State Guard without unnecessary delay shall surrender a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person apprehended or captured in another state to the military or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        police forces of that state or the United States.  This surrender is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not a waiver by this state of a right to extradite or prosecute the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person for a crime committed in this state. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Military forces of another state may continue a fresh  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        pursuit into this state in the same manner permitted the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard under Subsection (c).  The military forces of the other state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall without unnecessary delay surrender a person captured or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        arrested in this state to the military or police forces of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state to be dealt with according to law.  This subsection does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prohibit an arrest in this state permitted by other law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.307.  FEDERAL SERVICE.  This chapter does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authorize the calling, ordering, or drafting of all or part of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas State Guard into military service of the United States.  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person is not exempted by enlistment or commission in the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        State Guard from military service under federal law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.308.  RECORDS; ARMS; EQUIPMENT.  (a)  The commander  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the Texas State Guard shall maintain and preserve the individual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and unit records of the Texas State Guard and the Texas State Guard  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Honorary Reserve. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The governor may request for use of the Texas State  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Guard arms and equipment that the United States government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        possesses and can spare.  The governor, or the adjutant general if  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        delegated the authority by the governor, shall make available to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas State Guard state armories and available state property. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.309.  TEXAS STATE GUARD HONORARY RESERVE.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor, or adjutant general under the governor's authority and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        direction, may transfer to the Texas State Guard Honorary Reserve  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an officer or enlisted service member of the Texas State Guard who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  is physically disabled; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  is at least 60 years of age; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  has served the federal or state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        satisfactorily for at least 20 years. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The governor may advance the service member one grade or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rank at the time of the transfer into the honorary reserve.  For a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member who is not a general officer, the adjutant general  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may advance the service member one grade or rank at the time of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        transfer into the honorary reserve. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.310.  TEXAS STATE GUARD UNIFORM AND INSIGNIA FUND.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  A special revolving fund is established outside the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        treasury to be known as the Texas State Guard uniform and insignia  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fund.  The fund may be used only to purchase uniforms and insignia  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to be used by members of the Texas State Guard.  The fund shall be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        administered in accordance with Section 437.211. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The fund consists of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  donations made to the fund; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  revenue received by the Texas State Guard from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sale of uniforms and insignia to members of the guard; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  depository interest and investment income earned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on money in the fund. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  If any part of the fund remains unexpended and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unobligated at the end of the state fiscal year, that amount is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dedicated for the same purposes in the subsequent year.  Money in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the fund may not be diverted for any other purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 1.02.  Subchapter J, Chapter 431, Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is transferred to Chapter 437, Government Code, as added by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act, redesignated as Subchapter H, Chapter 437, Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER H [J].  AWARDS | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.351 [431.131].  TEXAS LEGISLATIVE MEDAL OF HONOR.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member of the state or federal military forces designated by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily performs a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the service member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [person] for gallantry and intrepidity above the service member's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [person's] comrades.  Awarding of the medal shall be considered on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the standard of extraordinary merit.  The medal may be awarded only  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on incontestable proof of performance of the deed.  To be eligible  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, a service member [person]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        must: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  have been born in this state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  reside in this state or have been a resident of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this state on the service member's [person's] death; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  have been a resident of this state when the service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member [person] entered military service. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A service member [person] is not ineligible for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Legislative Medal of Honor because the service member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [person] has received any other medal or award for military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service, including a medal or award made by the United States. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  To receive the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service member [person] must be nominated during a regular session  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the legislature by majority vote of all the members of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        nominating committee consisting of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the adjutant general or the adjutant general's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        designated representative; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor's designated representative; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives or the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        speaker's designated representative; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the chair of the standing committee of each house  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over military and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        veterans affairs. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The legislature by concurrent resolution may direct the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor to award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to a service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member [person] nominated by the nominating committee.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        committee chairs serving on the nominating committee shall jointly  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prepare a concurrent resolution directing the governor to award the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        medal to a service member [person] nominated.  The legislature may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        direct the medal to be awarded only during a regular session and may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not, during a regular session, direct the medal to be awarded to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        more than: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  one service member for service in the state or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        federal military forces during the period beginning after 1835 but  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before 1956; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  one service member for service in the state or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        federal military forces after 1955 [person during a regular 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          session]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.352 [431.132].  LONE STAR MEDAL OF VALOR.  The Lone  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Star Medal of Valor shall be awarded to a member of the military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces of this state, another state, or the United States who  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        performs specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage, or who  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        performs within an exceptionally short period a closely related  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        series of heroic acts, if the acts involve personal hazard or danger  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the voluntary risk of life and result in an accomplishment so  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the person apart from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the person's comrades or from other persons in similar  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        circumstances.  Awarding of the medal requires a lesser degree of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        gallantry than awarding of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        but requires that the acts be performed with marked distinction. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               [Sec.
           
          431.133.
           
           
          LONE STAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.  The 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal 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 the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          state in performance of a duty of great responsibility while 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          serving with the state military forces.
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               [Sec.
           
          431.134.
           
           
          OTHER AWARDS.  (a)
           
           
          The adjutant general may 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          adopt rules and regulations relating to the:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(1)
           
           
          Texas Faithful Service Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a member of the state military forces who has completed 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          five years of honorable service during which the person has shown 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          state;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(2)
           
           
          Federal Service Medal, which shall be awarded to 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          a person who was inducted into federal service from the state 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          military forces between June 15, 1940, and January 1, 1946, or after 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          June 1, 1950, if the service was for more than 90 days;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(3)
           
           
          Texas Medal of Merit, which may be presented 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;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(4)
           
           
          Texas Outstanding Service Medal, which may be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          presented to a 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)
           
           
          Texas State Guard Service Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a person who completes three consecutive years of 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          honorable service in the Texas State Guard during which the person 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          has shown fidelity to duty, efficient service, and great loyalty to 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          the state;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(6)
           
           
          Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          which shall be awarded to a person 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 person was deployed while 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          serving on active federal military duty;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(7)
           
           
          Texas Humanitarian Service Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a person who:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(A)
           
           
          does not meet the criteria for an award of 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          the federal Humanitarian Service Medal;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(B)
           
           
          is a member of the state military forces; 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          and
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(C)
           
           
          while serving on state active duty or active 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32 of the 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;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(8)
           
           
          Texas Cavalry Medal, which shall be awarded to a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          person who:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(A)
           
           
          served on or after September 11, 2001, in 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          the 124th Cavalry, Texas Army National Guard; and
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(B)
           
           
          served in a hostile fire zone as designated 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          by the United States secretary of defense;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(9)
           
           
          Texas Combat Service Ribbon, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a 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;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(10)
           
           
          Texas Purple Heart Medal, which shall be awarded 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          to a person 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;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(11)
           
           
          Texas Superior Service Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(A)
           
           
          a member of the state 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 state military forces;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(12)
           
           
          Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, which 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          shall be awarded to a member of the state 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 of the United States 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Code; and
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(C)
           
           
          satisfactorily in defense support to a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          mission in the state under civilian authority;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(13)
           
           
          Texas Iraqi Campaign Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a person who was inducted into federal service from the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Texas National Guard, without regard to the place that the person 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          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)
           
           
          Texas Afghanistan Campaign Medal, which shall be 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          awarded to a person 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 person was 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          deployed while serving on active federal military duty.
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               [(b)
           
           
          A member of the state military forces or a civilian 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          described by Subsection (a)(11) may be awarded the Texas Superior 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Service Medal only one time.] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.353 [431.135].  RECOMMENDATIONS.  (a)  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recommendation for award of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or[,] Lone Star Medal of Valor[, or Lone Star Distinguished Service 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Medal] shall be forwarded through military channels to the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general.  An individual having personal knowledge of an act or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        achievement or exceptional service believed to warrant the award of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        one of these medals may submit a letter of recommendation to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A letter of recommendation for award of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Legislative Medal of Honor or Lone Star Medal of Valor must give an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        account of the occurrence and statements of eyewitnesses, extracts  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from official records, sketches, maps, diagrams, or photographs to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        support and amplify the stated facts. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  [A letter of recommendation for award of the Lone Star 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Distinguished Service Medal must give an account of the exceptional 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          service or achievement, facts, and extracts from official documents 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          and photographs to support and amplify the facts.
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               [(d)]  If the adjutant general determines that a case meets  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the criteria established by Section 437.352 [this subchapter] for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        award of the Lone Star Medal of Valor [the awarding of one of these 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          medals], the adjutant general shall by endorsement recommend to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor the awarding of the [appropriate] medal. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.354 [431.136].  AWARDING.  The governor awards the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Legislative Medal of Honor as directed by the legislature  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Section 437.351 [431.131].  The governor awards the Lone Star  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Medal of Valor[, Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, or any 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          other award authorized by this subchapter] on recommendation of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjutant general. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               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. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A person may be awarded only one Texas Superior Service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Medal. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.356 [431.137].  POSTHUMOUS AWARDS.  An award may be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        made to a person who has died in the same manner as an award to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        living person, except the orders and citation must indicate that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the award is made posthumously. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.357 [431.138].  DESIGN; RIBBONS.  (a)  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department [adjutant general] shall design and have manufactured  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the medals, awards, decorations, and ribbons awarded under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subchapter and others that the adjutant general has approved for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        award. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The department may purchase or replace medals, awards,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        decorations, and ribbons authorized under this subchapter for the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recipient, the decedent's family, and nonprofit and governmental  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entities honoring the recipient or decedent. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The adjutant general shall adopt [rules and]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regulations prescribing when a ribbon may be appropriately worn  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        instead of the medal it symbolizes. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 1.03.  Subchapter K, Chapter 431, Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is transferred to Chapter 437, Government Code, as added by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act, redesignated as Subchapter I, Chapter 437, Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SUBCHAPTER I [K].  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.401 [431.151].  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        civil rights division. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "Complainant" means an individual who brings an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        action or proceeding under this subchapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  "Respondent" means the person charged in a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complaint filed under this subchapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.402 [431.152].  FILING OF COMPLAINT; FORM AND  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        CONTENT; SERVICE.  (a)  A person claiming to be aggrieved by an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unlawful employment practice under Section 437.204 [431.006] or the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person's agent may file a complaint with the commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The complaint must be in writing and made under oath. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The complaint must state: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  that an unlawful employment practice under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.204 [431.006] has been committed; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the facts on which the complaint is based,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including the date, place, and circumstances of the alleged  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unlawful employment practice; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  facts sufficient to enable the commission to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        identify the respondent. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The commission shall serve the respondent with a copy of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the perfected complaint not later than the 10th day after the date  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the complaint is filed. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  A complaint may be amended to cure technical defects or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        omissions, including a failure to verify the complaint or to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        clarify and amplify an allegation made in the complaint. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  An amendment to a complaint alleging additional facts  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that constitute an unlawful employment practice under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.204 [431.006] relating to or arising from the subject matter of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the original complaint relates back to the date the complaint was  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        first received by the commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.403 [431.153].  ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        The use of alternative means of dispute resolution, including  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        settlement negotiations, conciliation, facilitation, mediation,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fact-finding, minitrials, and arbitration, is encouraged to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resolve disputes arising under Section 437.204 [431.006].  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        settlement of a disputed claim under this subchapter that results  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from the use of traditional or alternative means of dispute  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resolution is binding on the parties to the claim. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.404 [431.154].  INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commission shall investigate a complaint arising under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.204 [431.006] and determine if there is reasonable cause to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        believe that the respondent engaged in an unlawful employment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practice as alleged in the complaint. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.405 [431.155].  LACK OF REASONABLE CAUSE;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT.  (a)  If, after investigation, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commission determines that reasonable cause does not exist to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        believe that the respondent engaged in an unlawful employment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practice under Section 437.204 [431.006] as alleged in a complaint,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the commission shall issue a written determination incorporating  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the finding that the evidence does not support the complaint and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dismissing the complaint. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The commission shall serve a copy of the determination  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on the complainant, the respondent, and other agencies as required  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.406 [431.156].  DETERMINATION OF REASONABLE CAUSE;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        REVIEW BY PANEL.  If, after investigation, the commission  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        respondent engaged in an unlawful employment practice under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.204 [431.006] as alleged in a complaint, the commission shall: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  issue a written determination incorporating the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        finding that the evidence supports the complaint; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  serve a copy of the determination on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complainant, the respondent, and other agencies as required by law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.407 [431.157].  RESOLUTION BY INFORMAL METHODS.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  If a determination of reasonable cause is made, the commission  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged unlawful employment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practice arising under Section 437.204 [431.006] by informal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Without the written consent of the complainant and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        respondent, the commission, its executive director, or its other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officers or employees may not disclose to the public information  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        about the efforts in a particular case to resolve an alleged  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unlawful employment practice by conference, conciliation, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        persuasion, regardless of whether there is a determination of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reasonable cause. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.408 [431.158].  NOTICE OF DISMISSAL OR UNRESOLVED  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        COMPLAINT.  If the commission dismisses a complaint or does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resolve the complaint, the commission shall inform the complainant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the dismissal or failure to resolve the complaint in writing by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        certified mail. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.409 [431.159].  TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  If the commission concludes from a preliminary investigation  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of an unlawful employment practice arising under Section 437.204  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.006] alleged in a complaint that prompt judicial action is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        necessary, the commission shall file a petition seeking appropriate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        temporary relief against the respondent pending final  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determination of a proceeding under this subchapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The petition shall be filed in a district court in a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county in which: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the alleged unlawful employment practice that is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the subject of the complaint occurred; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the respondent resides. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A court may not issue temporary injunctive relief unless  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the commission shows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a substantial likelihood of success on the merits;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  irreparable harm to the complainant in the absence  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the preliminary relief pending final determination on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        merits. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.410 [431.160].  CIVIL ACTION BY COMMISSION.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  The commission may bring a civil action against a respondent  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the commission determines that there is reasonable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        cause to believe that the respondent engaged in an unlawful  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employment practice under Section 437.204 [431.006]; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the commission's efforts to resolve the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        discriminatory practice to the satisfaction of the complainant and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        respondent through informal methods have been unsuccessful. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The complainant may intervene in a civil action brought  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.411 [431.161].  NOTICE OF COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        FILE CIVIL ACTION.  (a)  A complainant who receives notice under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.408 [431.158] that the complaint is dismissed or not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resolved is entitled to request from the commission a written  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        notice of the complainant's right to file a civil action. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The complainant must request the notice in writing. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The executive director of the commission may issue the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        notice. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Failure of the executive director of the commission to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issue the notice of a complainant's right to file a civil action  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        does not affect the complainant's right under this subchapter to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        bring a civil action against the respondent. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.412 [431.162].  CIVIL ACTION BY COMPLAINANT.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Within 60 days after the date a notice of the right to file a civil  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        action is received, the complainant may bring a civil action  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        against the respondent. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.413 [431.163].  COMMISSION'S INTERVENTION IN CIVIL  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ACTION BY COMPLAINANT.  After receipt of a timely application, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court may permit the commission to intervene in a civil action filed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Section 437.412 [431.162] if: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the commission certifies that the case is of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general public importance; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  before commencement of the action, the commission  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issued a determination of reasonable cause to believe that Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.204 [431.006] was violated. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.414 [431.164].  ASSIGNMENT TO EARLY HEARING.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court shall set an action brought under this subchapter for hearing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        at the earliest practicable date to expedite the action. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.415 [431.165].  INJUNCTION; EQUITABLE RELIEF.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  On finding that a respondent engaged in an unlawful employment  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        practice under Section 437.204 [431.006] as alleged in a complaint,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a court may: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  prohibit by injunction the respondent from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        engaging in an unlawful employment practice under Section 437.204  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.006]; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  order additional equitable relief as may be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appropriate. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Additional equitable relief may include: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  hiring or reinstating with or without back pay; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  upgrading an employee with or without pay; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  paying court costs. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Liability under a back pay award may not accrue for a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        date more than two years before the date a complaint is filed with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the commission.  Interim earnings, workers' compensation benefits,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and unemployment compensation benefits received operate to reduce  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the back pay otherwise allowable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.416 [431.166].  COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  On finding that a respondent engaged in an intentional  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unlawful employment practice under Section 437.204 [431.006] as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        alleged in a complaint, a court may, as provided by this section,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        award: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  compensatory damages; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  punitive damages. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A complainant may recover punitive damages against a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        respondent, other than a respondent that is a governmental entity,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if the complainant demonstrates that the respondent engaged in an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unlawful employment practice under Section 437.204 [431.006] with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        malice or with reckless indifference to the state-protected rights  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of an aggrieved individual. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Compensatory damages awarded under this section may not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        include: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  back pay; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  interest on back pay; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  other relief authorized under Section 437.415(b)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.165(b)]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The sum of the amount of compensatory damages awarded  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this section for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        life, and other nonpecuniary losses and the amount of punitive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        damages awarded under this section may not exceed, for each  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        complainant: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  $50,000 in the case of a respondent that has fewer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than 101 employees; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  $100,000 in the case of a respondent that has more  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than 100 and fewer than 201 employees; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  $200,000 in the case of a respondent that has more  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than 200 and fewer than 501 employees; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  $300,000 in the case of a respondent that has more  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than 500 employees. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  For the purposes of Subsection (d), in determining the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        number of employees of a respondent, the requisite number of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employees must be employed by the respondent for each of 20 or more  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.417 [431.167].  ATTORNEY'S FEES; COSTS.  (a)  In a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proceeding under this subchapter, a court may allow the prevailing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        party, other than the commission, a reasonable attorney's fee as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        part of the costs. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The state, a state agency, or a political subdivision is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        liable for costs, including attorney's fees, to the same extent as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        private person. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  In awarding costs and attorney's fees in an action or a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proceeding under this subchapter, the court, in its discretion, may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        include reasonable expert fees. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.418 [431.168].  COMPELLED COMPLIANCE.  If an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        employer fails to comply with a court order issued under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subchapter, a party to the action or the commission, on the written  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        request of a person aggrieved by the failure, may commence  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proceedings to compel compliance with the order. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 437.419 [431.169].  TRIAL DE NOVO.  (a)  A judicial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proceeding under this subchapter is by trial de novo. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A commission finding, recommendation, determination, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other action is not binding on a court. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ARTICLE 2.  TEXAS MILITARY CONFORMING CHANGES | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.01.  Subsection (a), Section 7.111, Education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The board shall provide for the administration of high  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        school equivalency examinations, including administration by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Military Department [adjutant general's department] for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        students described by Subdivision (2)(C).  A person who does not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        have a high school diploma may take the examination in accordance  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with rules adopted by the board if the person is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  over 17 years of age; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  16 years of age or older and: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  is enrolled in a Job Corps training program  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        et seq.), and its subsequent amendments; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  a public agency providing supervision of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person or having custody of the person under a court order  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        recommends that the person take the examination; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  is enrolled in the Texas Military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Department's [adjutant general's department's] Seaborne ChalleNGe  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Corps; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  required to take the examination under a justice  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or municipal court order issued under Article 45.054(a)(1)(C), Code  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of Criminal Procedure. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.02.  Subsection (b), Section 411.121, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The adjutant general is entitled to obtain from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department criminal history record information maintained by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department that relates to a person who is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a member of the Texas [state] military forces; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  an employee of the Texas Military Department  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [adjutant general's department]; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  an applicant for enlistment in the Texas [state]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  an applicant for employment with the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Military Department [adjutant general's department]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.03.  Subsection (a), Section 421.021, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The Homeland Security Council is composed of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor or the governor's designee, the speaker of the house of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        representatives or the speaker's designee, the lieutenant governor  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or the lieutenant governor's designee, and one representative of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        each of the following entities, appointed by the single statewide  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        elected or appointed governing officer, administrative head, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        chair, as appropriate, of the entity: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  Department of Agriculture; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  office of the attorney general; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  General Land Office; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  Public Utility Commission of Texas; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  Department of State Health Services; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  Department of Information Resources; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  Texas Division of Emergency Management; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (9)  Texas Military Department [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department]; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (10)  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (11)  Railroad Commission of Texas; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (12)  Texas [Strategic] Military Preparedness  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [Planning] Commission; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (13)  Texas Department of Transportation; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (14)  Commission on State Emergency Communications; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (15)  Office of State-Federal Relations; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (16)  secretary of state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (17)  Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Installations; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (18)  Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [Transportation] and Homeland Security; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (19) [(18)]  House Committee on Defense and Veterans'  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Affairs; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (20)  House Committee on Homeland Security and Public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Safety; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (21) [(19)]  Texas Animal Health Commission; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (22) [(20)  Texas Association of Regional Councils;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(21)]  Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Standards and Education; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (23) [(22)]  state fire marshal's office; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (24) [(23)]  Texas Education Agency; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (25) [(24)]  Texas Commission on Fire Protection; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (26) [(25)]  Parks and Wildlife Department; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (27) [(26)]  Texas A&M Forest Service; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (28) [(27)]  Texas Water Development Board. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.04.  Subsection (a), Section 432.072, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A person not subject to this chapter commits an offense  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if the person: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  has been duly subpoenaed to appear as a witness or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to produce books and records before a military court or before a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military or civil officer or peace officer designated to take a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        deposition to be read in evidence before a court; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  has been duly paid or tendered by the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces [adjutant general's department] the fees and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        mileage of a witness at the rates allowed to witnesses under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        432.192; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  wilfully neglects or refuses to appear, qualify as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a witness, testify, or produce evidence that the person may have  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        been legally subpoenaed to produce. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.05.  Subsection (a), Section 432.109, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The Texas Court of Military Appeals[, located for 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          administrative purposes only in the adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department,] consists of five judges appointed by the adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general on the advice and recommendation of the state judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        advocate general for staggered six-year terms.  A judge appointed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which the judge's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for the unexpired term of his predecessor.  The adjutant general, on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the advice and recommendation of the state judge advocate general,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall appoint the chief judge of the court.  A person is eligible  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for appointment to the court if the person: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  is a member of the State Bar of Texas; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  is a commissioned officer of the Texas [state]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces, active or retired, or a retired commissioned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer in the reserves of the armed forces of the United States;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  has been engaged in the active practice of law for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        at least five years and has at least five years' experience as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        staff judge advocate, judge advocate, or legal officer with the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas [state] military forces, except that the requirements of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subdivision are satisfied by equivalent experience or practice in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the armed forces of the United States. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.06.  Subsection (b), Section 432.192, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A person not in the employ of this state and not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        belonging to its active military forces, who has been duly summoned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to appear as a witness before a military court, is entitled to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        receive $50 a day for each day actually in attendance on the court,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and 12 cents a mile for going from his place of residence to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        place of trial or hearing, and 12 cents a mile for returning.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Civilian witnesses will be paid by the Texas military forces  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [adjutant general's department]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.07.  Section 432.194, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 432.194.  EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION.  The adjutant  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        general may pay all expenses incurred in the administration of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state military justice, including the expenses of courts-martial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and expenses incurred under Sections 432.109, 432.184, and 432.192,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from any funds appropriated to the Texas military forces [adjutant 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          general's department]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.08.  Section 434.153, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 434.153.  COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL.  The council is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        composed of the executive head of the following agencies, or that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person's designated representative: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the Texas Veterans Commission; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the Veterans' Land Board; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the Texas Military Department [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department]; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the Health and Human Services Commission; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  the State Bar of Texas. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.09.  Subsection (a), Section 1232.101, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  With respect to all bonds authorized to be issued by or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on behalf of the Texas Military Department [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department], Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Agricultural  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Finance Authority, Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Authority, Midwestern State University, and Texas Southern  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        University, the authority has the exclusive authority to act on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        behalf of those entities in issuing bonds on their behalf.  In  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        connection with those issuances and with the issuance of refunding  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        bonds on behalf of those entities, the authority is subject to all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        rights, duties, and conditions surrounding issuance previously  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable to the issuing entity under the statute authorizing the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        issuance.  A reference in an authorizing statute to the entity on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        whose behalf the bonds are being issued applies equally to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authority in its capacity as issuer on behalf of the entity. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.10.  Subsection (d), Section 161.552, Health and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The department and commission shall develop and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maintain the directory in collaboration with local, state, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        national private and government organizations, including: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the United States Veterans Health Administration; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the United States Department of Defense; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  the Texas military forces [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department]; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  the Texas Veterans Commission; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  other public and private national and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        community-based organizations that provide support to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        servicemembers and their families. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.11.  Section 412.0128, Labor Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 412.0128.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF [INJURY] INFORMATION.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Information in or derived from a workers' compensation claim file  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regarding an employee, and information in or derived from a risk  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        management review related to facility security or continuity of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        operations of the Texas military forces, is confidential and may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        not be disclosed by the office except as provided by this subchapter  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or other law.  Classified or sensitive information of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces specifically preempted from disclosure by federal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        law retains the confidentiality protection provided by this section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for all purposes, including disclosure to the office. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.12.  Subsection (e), Section 31.156, Natural  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  In any year that the division will evaluate real  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        property under the management and control of the Texas Military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Department [adjutant general's department], the division shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        notify the department before the division begins the evaluation. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.13.  Subsection (d), Section 31.157, Natural  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  If under the Texas Military Department's [adjutant 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          general's] report submitted as provided by Section 437.154  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.030], Government Code, the department [adjutant general]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determines that real property under the management and control of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the [adjutant general's] department is used for military purposes,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the commissioner may not recommend a real estate transaction  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        involving that real property in the final report submitted as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Subsection (e). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.14.  Subsections (b), (c), and (d), Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        74.404, Property Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A military award or decoration delivered to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller under this chapter: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  may not be sold under Section 74.401 or destroyed;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  shall be delivered by the comptroller to the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces [adjutant general's department]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The Texas military forces [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department] shall conduct a reasonable search of public records to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        locate the person to whom the military award or decoration was  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        awarded.  If the department cannot locate the person, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department shall attempt to locate the person's next of kin.  If the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department locates the person or the person's next of kin, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        department shall deliver the award or decoration to the person or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the person's next of kin, as applicable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  If the Texas military forces [adjutant general's 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          department] cannot locate the person to whom a military award or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        decoration was awarded or the person's next of kin, the award or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        decoration shall be held in trust for the comptroller at: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a museum established by the department; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  if no museum exists, any other public facility  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        designated by the department. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ARTICLE 3.  CONFORMING AMENDMENTS | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.01.  Subsection (a), Section 721.002, Business &  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Commerce Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A person commits an offense if the person uses, in an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        advertisement for a commercial purpose, the name of an individual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        who is an active duty or former member of the United States armed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces, who is a member or former member of a reserve component of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the United States armed forces, or who is a member or former member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the state military forces, as defined by Section 437.001  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.001], Government Code, or a picture of the individual in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        uniform in which the individual is clearly identifiable, without  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        obtaining the consent of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the individual, if the individual is living; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the individual's surviving spouse or personal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        representative or a majority of the individual's adult heirs, if  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the individual is deceased. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.02.  Subsection (a), Section 54.345, Education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  For each semester, the adjutant general of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces shall certify to institutions of higher education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as described by Section 437.226 [431.090], Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information identifying the persons to whom the adjutant general  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        has awarded assistance for tuition and mandatory fees under that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.03.  Subsection (a), Section 411.121, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  In this section: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  "Adjutant general" has the meaning assigned by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.001 [431.022]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "State military forces" has the meaning assigned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Section 437.001 [431.001]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.04.  Subsection (a), Section 411.1881, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a person may not be required to complete the range instruction  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        portion of a handgun proficiency course to obtain or renew a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        concealed handgun license issued under this subchapter if the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  is currently serving in or is honorably discharged  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marine corps of the United States or an auxiliary service or reserve  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        unit of one of those branches of the armed forces; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the Texas [state] military forces, as defined  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Section 437.001 [431.001]; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  has, within the five years preceding the date of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the person's application for an original or renewed license, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable, completed a course of training in handgun proficiency  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or familiarization as part of the person's service with the armed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces or Texas [state] military forces. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.05.  Subsection (a), Section 411.1951, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  In this section, "veteran" means a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  has served in: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marine corps of the United States; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the Texas [state] military forces as defined  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Section 437.001 [431.001]; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  an auxiliary service of one of those branches  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the armed forces; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  has been honorably discharged from the branch of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the service in which the person served. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.06.  Section 418.006, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 418.006.  CIVIL LIABILITY.  An officer or employee of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state or local agency, or a volunteer acting at the direction of an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer or employee of a state or local agency, is considered for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purposes of Section 437.222 [431.085] to be a member of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [state] military forces ordered into active service of the state by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proper authority and is considered to be discharging a duty in that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        capacity if the person is performing an activity related to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sheltering or housing individuals in connection with the evacuation  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of an area stricken or threatened by disaster. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.07.  Subsections (a), (b), and (d), Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        421.061, Government Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  An officer or employee of a state or local agency  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        performing a homeland security activity or a volunteer performing a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        homeland security activity at the request or under the direction of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an officer or employee of a state or local agency is considered for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purposes of Section 437.222 [431.085] to be a member of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [state] military forces ordered into active service of the state by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        proper authority and is considered to be discharging a duty in that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        capacity if: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the officer, employee, or volunteer is performing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the homeland security activity under procedures prescribed or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        circumstances described for the purpose of this section in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governor's homeland security strategy; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  in the case of a volunteer, the volunteer is acting  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        within the course and scope of the request or direction of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer or employee of the state or local agency; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  in the case of an officer or employee of a state or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        local agency, the officer or employee is acting within the course  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and scope of the person's authority. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A person described by Subsection (a) is not immune from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        civil liability under Section 437.222 [431.085] for damages  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        resulting from the performance of a homeland security activity if,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under the circumstances, the person's performance of the homeland  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        security activity was wilfully or wantonly negligent or done with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        persons this chapter is intended to protect. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  This section does not affect the application of Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.222 [431.085] on its own terms to a person who is a member of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas [state] military forces ordered into active service of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state by proper authority under other law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.08.  Section 661.903, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 661.903.  NATIONAL GUARD EMERGENCY.  A state employee  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        who is called to state active duty as a member of the Texas [state]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces by the governor because of an emergency is entitled  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to a leave of absence without a deduction in salary in accordance  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        with Section 437.254 [431.0825].  A state employee who is called to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        federal active duty as a member of the Texas [state] military forces  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        may not receive the employee's state salary except as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Sections 661.904(d) and (f) and 661.9041. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.09.  Subsection (b), Section 1232.1025,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  After receiving a request under Section 437.153  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [431.0292 or 431.0302(c)], the board shall promptly issue and sell  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        bonds in the name of the authority to provide the requested  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        financing. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.10.  Subdivision (2), Section 2308.251,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "Veteran" means a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  has served in: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (i)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or marine corps of the United States or the United States Public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq., as amended; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (ii)  the Texas [state] military forces as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined by Section 437.001 [431.001]; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (iii)  an auxiliary service of one of those  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        branches of the armed forces; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  has been honorably discharged from the branch  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the service in which the person served. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.11.  Subdivision (3), Section 161.551, Health and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  "Servicemember" means [a resident of this state 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          who is] a member or former member of the state military forces or a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        component of the United States armed forces, including a reserve  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        component.  In this section, "state military forces" has the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        meaning assigned by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.12.  Subsections (d) and (e), Section 775.039,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The differential pay provided by Subsection (a) begins  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        when the benefits allowed under Section 437.202 [431.005],  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, are exhausted and continues until the employee's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        active military duty terminates. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  The board may extend the insurance benefits provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the district to a district employee who is a member of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces or a reserve component of the United States armed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces who is called to active duty and to the employee's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        dependents.  The extension period begins when the benefits allowed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Section 437.202 [431.005], Government Code, are exhausted and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        continues until the employee's active military duty terminates. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.13.  Subsection (a), Section 1001.076, Health and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  In this section, "veteran" means a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  has served in: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marine corps of the United States; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the state military forces as defined by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  an auxiliary service of one of those branches  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the armed forces; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  has been honorably discharged from the branch of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the service in which the person served. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.14.  Subsection (a), Section 408.0445, Labor Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  For purposes of computing income benefits or death  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        benefits under Section 437.227 [431.104], Government Code, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        average weekly wage of a member of the state military forces as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code, who is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        engaged in authorized training or duty is an amount equal to the sum  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the member's regular weekly wage at any employment the member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        holds in addition to serving as a member of the state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces, disregarding any period during which the member is not  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fully compensated for that employment because the member is engaged  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in authorized military training or duty, and the member's regular  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        weekly wage as a member of the state military forces, except that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the amount may not exceed 100 percent of the state average weekly  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        wage as determined under Section 408.047. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.15.  Subdivision (5), Section 501.001, Labor Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  "Employee" means a person who is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  in the service of the state pursuant to an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        election, appointment, or express oral or written contract of hire; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  paid from state funds but whose duties  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        require that the person work and frequently receive supervision in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a political subdivision of the state; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  a peace officer employed by a political  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subdivision, while the peace officer is exercising authority  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        granted under: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (i)  Article 2.12, Code of Criminal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Procedure; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (ii)  Articles 14.03(d) and (g), Code of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Criminal Procedure; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (D)  a member of the state military forces, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code, who is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        engaged in authorized training or duty; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (E)  a Texas Task Force 1 member, as defined by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 88.301, Education Code, who is activated by the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Division of Emergency Management or is injured during training  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sponsored or sanctioned by Texas Task Force 1. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.16.  Subsection (a), Section 392.067, Local  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [431.001],  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.17.  Subdivision (1), Section 1804.001,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  "Veteran" means a person who has served on active  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duty in the armed forces of the United States or in the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.18.  Subdivision (2), Subsection (a), Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        31.121, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "State military forces" has the meaning assigned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.19.  Subdivision (2), Subsection (a), Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        32.54, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "State military forces" has the meaning assigned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.20.  Subsections (b), (d), and (f), Section 46.15,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Penal Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  is in the actual discharge of official duties as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code, or as a guard employed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by a penal institution; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  is traveling; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  is engaging in lawful hunting, fishing, or other  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        conducted, or is en route between the premises and the actor's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        residence, motor vehicle, or watercraft, if the weapon is a type  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commonly used in the activity; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  holds a security officer commission issued by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Texas Private Security Board, if the person is engaged in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        performance of the person's duties as an officer commissioned under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person's place of assignment and is wearing the officer's uniform  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and carrying the officer's weapon in plain view; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  acts as a personal protection officer and carries  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the person's security officer commission and personal protection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer authorization, if the person: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  is engaged in the performance of the person's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duties as a personal protection officer under Chapter 1702,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the person's place of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assignment; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  is either: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (i)  wearing the uniform of a security  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer, including any uniform or apparel described by Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        1702.323(d), Occupations Code, and carrying the officer's weapon in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        plain view; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (ii)  not wearing the uniform of a security  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (6)  is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        carry a concealed handgun of the same category as the handgun the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person is carrying; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (7)  holds an alcoholic beverage permit or license or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is an employee of a holder of an alcoholic beverage permit or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        license if the person is supervising the operation of the permitted  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or licensed premises; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (8)  is a student in a law enforcement class engaging in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        an activity required as part of the class, if the weapon is a type  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commonly used in the activity and the person is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  on the immediate premises where the activity  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is conducted; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  en route between those premises and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        person's residence and is carrying the weapon unloaded. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The provisions of Section 46.02 prohibiting the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        carrying of a firearm or carrying of a club do not apply to a public  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        security officer employed by the adjutant general under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        437.053 [431.029], Government Code, in performance of official  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duties or while traveling to or from a place of duty. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  Section 46.03(a)(6) does not apply to a person who  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        possesses a firearm or club while in the actual discharge of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        official duties as: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a member of the armed forces or state military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        forces, as defined by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  an employee of a penal institution. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.21.  Section 151.344, Tax Code, is amended to read  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 151.344.  POST EXCHANGES ON STATE MILITARY PROPERTY.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a)  A taxable item sold, leased, or rented to, or stored, used, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        consumed by, a post exchange under Section 437.110 [431.040],  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code, is exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A taxable item sold, leased, or rented by a post  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exchange under Section 437.110 [431.040], Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.22.  Subsection (a), Section 521.1235,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  In this section, "veteran" means a person who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  has served in: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        marine corps of the United States; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the Texas National Guard as defined by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 437.001 [431.001], Government Code; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  has been honorably discharged from the branch of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the service in which the person served. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.23.  Subsection (g), Section 36.354, Utilities  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  For the purposes of this section, the term "military  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        base" does not include a military base: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  that has been closed or realigned under the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        2687) and its subsequent amendments; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  that is administered by an authority established  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by a municipality under Chapter 379B [378], Local Government Code  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [, as added by Chapter 1221, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          Session, 1999]; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  that is operated by or for the benefit of the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        National Guard, as defined by Section 437.001 [431.001], Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, unless the base is served by a municipally owned utility owned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by a city with a population of 650,000 or more; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  for which a municipally owned utility has acquired  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the electric distribution system under 10 U.S.C. Section 2688. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ARTICLE 4.  REPEALER AND EFFECTIVE DATE | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 4.01.  The following provisions of the Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code are repealed: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  Sections 431.002, 431.003, 431.004, 431.005,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        431.0055, 431.006, 431.007, 431.008, 431.009, 431.010, 431.011,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        431.012, 431.013, 431.014, 431.015, 431.016, 431.017, 431.0175,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        431.018, and 431.0185; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  Subchapters B, C, D, F, G, and I, Chapter 431. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 4.02.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |