HOUSE BILL NO. 6276

September 29, 2020, Introduced by Reps. LaFave, Markkanen, Glenn, Howell, Afendoulis and Berman and referred to the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security.

A bill to provide for civilian state awards; and to prescribe the powers and duties for certain state officers and entities.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Michigan civilian state awards act".

Sec. 3. (1) The adjutant general shall receive award nominations submitted under this act and determine if the nominee meets the award requirements as established under this act. A nomination must provide in writing an account of the occurrence warranting the award and any eyewitness statement, extract from official records, sketch, map, diagram, or photograph that supports and amplifies the stated facts. The adjutant general shall seek out and record any additional information available.

(2) An award nomination under this act may be submitted through the department of military and veterans affairs webpage that accepts nominations for the Michigan military department state awards program established under section 182(2) of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.582.

(3) An award nomination under this act may be submitted by the public.

(4) A member of the house of representatives or senate may submit an award recommendation to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees that have responsibility for military and veterans affairs.

Sec. 5. (1) The legislature may award the Michigan legislative medal of freedom.

(2) The Michigan legislative medal of freedom is the highest civilian award of this state. All of the following apply to this medal:

(a) The medal must be awarded to an individual in recognition of a valorous or heroic deed performed in the saving of a life, for injury or death, or for threat of injury or death, incurred in the service of this state or the individual's community or on behalf of the health, welfare, or safety of other individuals.

(b) The adjutant general shall submit the following information to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees that have responsibility for military and veterans affairs:

(i) If the adjutant general 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 adjutant general determines that a nominee does qualify for the medal and the adjutant general recommends the nominee for the medal, his or her recommendation, the nomination, and any supporting documents.

(c) The medal is awarded upon passage of a concurrent resolution of the legislature. The resolution may be considered only during a regular session of the legislature.

(d) Upon passage of the resolution described in subdivision (c), the speaker of the house of representatives and the majority leader of the senate shall award the medal in the presence of the governor, the sponsoring legislator or legislators, and the representative and senator of the district where the awardee resides.

Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 100th Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 6279 (request no. 03568'19).

(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 6277 (request no. 04968'19).