Senate Bill No. 468

(By Senators Miller, Yost, Prezioso, Wells, Carmichael, Snyder, Fitzsimmons, Nohe, Jenkins, D. Hall and Edgell)

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[Introduced February 3, 2014; referred to the Committee on Military; and then to the Committee on Government Organization.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-1G-10, relating to providing for the awarding of a West Virginia Veterans Medal and ribbon and a West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon to certain qualifying West Virginia veterans; and rules.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-1G-10, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1G. SERVICE MEDALS.

§15-1G-10. West Virginia Veterans Medal; West Virginia Service Cross.

    (a) In addition to any other medals or awards authorized under the provisions of this article, the following medals are authorized:

    (1) A West Virginia Veterans Medal and ribbon bar may be awarded to any resident of West Virginia who served in any of the five federally recognized military services for a period of at least thirty days at a time during which there was armed conflict.     (2) A West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon bar, along with a certificate signed by the Governor and State Adjutant General, may be awarded to any veteran who meets the criteria set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, and who also was awarded a federal achievement medal, commendation medal, meritorious service medal or a medal for valor by one of the five federally recognized military services.

    (b) West Virginia National Guard members may also be authorized to receive and wear the medals and ribbons authorized under the provisions of this section in an order of precedence determined by the Adjutant General.

    (c) The Adjutant General may propose rules pursuant to article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

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    (NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for the awarding of a West Virginia Veterans Medal and ribbon, and a West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon to certain qualifying West Virginia Veterans.

    This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.)

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MILITARY COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

    By striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

    Eng. Senate Bill No. 468--A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-1G-10, relating to providing for the awarding of a West Virginia Veterans Medal and ribbon and a West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon to certain qualifying West Virginia veterans; providing for the awarding of these medals and ribbons to West Virginia National Guard members as determined by the Adjutant General; and authorizing the Adjutant General to propose legislative rules.