HOUSE BILL NO. 5896
A bill to amend 1967 PA 150, entitled
"Michigan military act,"
(MCL 32.501 to 32.851) by adding section 132b.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 132b. (1) Under the Michigan legislative state medal program established under section 132, the legislature may award the Michigan legislative medal of valor.
(2) The Michigan legislative medal of valor is the second highest legislatively issued military award of this state. All of the following apply to the awarding of the medal:
(a) The medal may be awarded to a living or deceased service member who satisfies any of the following requirements:
(i) Was born in this state.
(ii) Was a resident of this state when the service member entered military service.
(iii) Died in this state.
(b) The medal must be awarded to a service member who performs specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage, or who performs within an exceptionally short period of time 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 service member apart from the service member's comrades or from other individuals in similar circumstances. Awarding of the medal requires a lesser degree of gallantry than awarding of the Michigan legislative medal of honor under section 132a, but requires that the acts be performed with marked distinction.
(c) The legislative council administrator shall submit the following information to the chairpersons of the house of representatives and senate committees that have responsibility for military and veterans affairs:
(i) If the legislative council administrator determines that a nominee does not qualify for the medal, the name of the nominee and the reasons why the nominee does not qualify for the medal.
(ii) If the legislative council administrator determines that a nominee qualifies for the medal and recommends the nominee for the medal, his or her recommendation, the nomination, and any supporting documents.
(d) The legislature may award the medal by concurrent resolution.
(e) Upon passage of the concurrent resolution described in subdivision (d), the speaker of the house of representatives and the majority leader of the senate shall award the medal in the presence of the legislator or legislators who sponsored the concurrent resolution and the representative and senator of the district where the medal recipient resides or last resided.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "Legislative council administrator" means the council administrator appointed by the legislative council under section 104a of the legislative council act, 1986 PA 268, MCL 4.1104a, or his or her designee.
(b) "Medal" means the Michigan legislative medal of valor described in subsection (1).
(c) "Service member" means a member of the state military establishment, another state's military establishment, or the United States Armed Forces.
(d) "United States Armed Forces" means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve components.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 101st Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5895 (request no. 03838'21).
(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5897 (request no. 03839'21).
(c) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No.____ (request no. 03840'21).