WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4287

By Delegates A. Evans, J. Nelson, Fleischauer, Rowan, Longstreth, Reynolds, Kelly, Ferro, Lynch, Ireland and Atkinson

[Introduced January 26, 2016; Referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §15-1G-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating  to providing for the awarding of a West Virginia veterans’ service pin and a West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon to qualifying West Virginia veterans; providing allowing the Military Awards Board to administer the issuance of the Service Cross and ribbon and veteran service pin;  authorizing the board to set priorities in issuing Service Cross and ribbon and veteran service pins; authorizing the board to receive contributions for funding the issuance of awards; and removing unnecessary rule-making authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §15-1G-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1G.  Service medals.

§15-1G-10.  West Virginia veterans service pin; 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 service decoration pin may be awarded to any current resident of West Virginia who honorably served in any of the five federally recognized military services for a period at a time during which there was armed conflict as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the Coast Guard, between the dates of December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, (WWII), June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954, (Korean War), January 1, 1961, and August 14, 1974, (Vietnam War),  and August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, (operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), and currently from September 11, 2001, to a date to be determined (terrorism attacks of the United States); or otherwise while on hazardous duty in support of a contingency, as recognized by the Military Awards Board. 

(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 Armed Forces of the United States, including the Coast Guard,  in a war zone or while on hazardous duty in support of a contingency, as recognized by the Military Awards Board.

(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.  The Military Awards Board may establish priorities and a process for issuing the awards, including issuing the awards based on date of military service to assure the oldest veterans receive priority.  The board may accept from any public or private source appropriations, grants, gifts, bequests, and contributions for use in funding the purchase and issuance of the awards as herein provided.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make revisions to current law relating to West Virginia veterans service pin and a West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon; the bill provides for the Military Awards Board to administer; providing eligibility for service cross ribbon bar and; provide a mechanism for issuing awards;  authorizing the Military Awards Board to set priorities in issuing metals and pins; authorizing the Military Awards Board to receive contributions for funding for the issuance of pins and medals; and removing unnecessary rule-making authority .

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.