Title GV, Government Code

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,…

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 or…

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 t…

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 perform…

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 state…

Sec. 437.212. PAY, BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS 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 necessa…

Sec. 437.2121. EXTENDED STATE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. (a) The adjutant general may hire service members of the Texas military forces to fill state military positions with the department as authorized by the General Appropriations Act. A service member hire…

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 i…

Sec. 437.2131. RIGHT TO CIVIL ACTION AND PRIVATE LEGAL COUNSEL. (a) This section applies to 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 und…

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…

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 pe…

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 th…

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 …

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 m…

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…

Sec. 437.220. SUPPLEMENTAL DUTY PAY FOR ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. (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 economic hardship as a result o…

Sec. 437.221. OTHER DUTY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE MISSIONS. The governor or the adjutant general, if designated by the governor, may require other duty for officers and enlisted persons in the Texas military forces. The other duty may include community service missions. Added by Act…

Sec. 437.222. LIABILITY OF SERVICE MEMBER. (a) A service member of the Texas military forces ordered into service of this state by proper authority is not personally liable in the person's private capacity for any act performed or for any contract or other obligation entered into…

Sec. 437.223. EXEMPTION FROM ARREST. (a) A member of the Texas military forces may not be arrested, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, while the person is going to or coming from a place that the person was required to be for military duty. (b) This section does …

Sec. 437.2235. PUBLIC DUTY JUSTIFICATION. Section 9.21, Penal Code, applies to conduct of a service member of the Texas military forces ordered into service of this state by proper authority that is performed in the service member's official capacity. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg…

Sec. 437.224. VOTING. (a) A unit, force, division, or command of the Texas military forces that is engaged in regular training on a day on which a primary, general, or special election for a state or federal office is held shall provide time off or arrange duty hours to permit al…

Sec. 437.225. DISCHARGE. (a) A service member may be discharged from the Texas military forces according to regulations adopted by the adjutant general or by federal law or regulations. (b) On termination of the appointment of an officer or enlistment of an enlisted service membe…

Sec. 437.226. ASSISTANCE FOR TUITION AND FEES. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. (b) To be eligible for assistance for tuition and manda…

Sec. 437.227. COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR INJURY. A member of the Texas military forces who is on state active duty, on state 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 trave…

Sec. 437.228. ISSUANCE AND USE OF UNIFORM AND OTHER MILITARY PROPERTY. (a) A service member to whom the department 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 an…

Sec. 437.229. UNIFORM. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the uniform of the officers and enlisted service 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 delegat…

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 pr…

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 t…

Sec. 437.232. CONFIDENTIALITY OF MILITARY PERSONNEL INFORMATION. (a) In this section, "military personnel information" means a service member's name, Department of Defense identification number, home address, rank, official title, pay rate or grade, state active duty orders, depl…

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. Ad…

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 pub…

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 th…

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 em…

Sec. 437.255. ASSISTING TEXAS STATE GUARD WITH CYBER OPERATIONS. To serve the state and safeguard the public from malicious cyber activity, the governor may command the Texas National Guard to assist the Texas State Guard with defending the state's cyber operations. Added by Acts…

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 ensur…

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 …

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 Te…

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 publ…

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 with…

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 …

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 servic…

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 a…

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 disab…

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 t…

Sec. 437.351. 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-sacrifi…

Sec. 437.352. 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, either individually or as a member of a crew, specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage,…