The bill would amend Chapter 437 of the Government Code to expand supplemental pay to members of all Texas military forces suffering economic hardship. This would include the Texas National Guard, the Texas State Guard, and other military forces organized under state law. Under current law, members of the Texas National Guard are the only eligible recipients.
The bill would replace all instances of the term "National Guard" with the term "military forces". This would create the Texas military forces supplemental military duty pay account in the General Revenue Fund.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the supplemental pay for economic hardship is a demand driven cost that depends on future activations of the Texas military forces, as well as the difference between military pay and civilian wages. Additionally, supplements are disbursed only as funds are available. As such, the fiscal impact cannot be determined.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.