AI-assisted research summary: This section lets the state provide pay and benefits for certain service members, gives some service members benefit and leave rights, and bars some members from receiving certain state pay.
Sec. 437.212. PAY, BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE ACTIVE DUTY, STATE TRAINING, AND OTHER DUTY. (a) This state may make suitable provision for the pay, transportation, subsistence, and housing of service members on state active duty or state training and other duty as necessary to accomplish the mission. (b) Pay and benefits received by service members of the Texas military forces under this chapter are not a gratuity, but are compensation for services provided as a condition of membership in the Texas military forces. (c) Service members who are state employees when called by proper authority into a state active duty status or for state training and other duty status are entitled to the regular benefits provided by the employing agency and a paid leave of absence as provided by Section 437.202. (d) A service member who is not a state employee when called by proper authority into a state active duty status or state training and other duty status becomes a temporary state employee when in this status and is limited to the benefits specified in this chapter. A temporary state employee status does not apply to a service member who is a federal civil servant or on active guard reserve status, including a member serving on orders issued under Title 10 or 32, United States Code. (e) A service member compensated under this section is eligible for state workers' compensation coverage under Chapter 501, Labor Code. (f) A member of the state military forces who is not a full-time or part-time state employee and who has been on state active duty or on state training or other duty for more than 60 days is, notwithstanding Section 1551.1055, Insurance Code, eligible to participate in the state group benefits program under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, and is considered to be a full-time state employee for the purposes of that chapter, including the receipt of a full state contribution for insurance coverage, subject to Subsection (f-1) and the following requirements: (1) the participant must be a member of the state military forces at the time of enrollment in the group benefits program; and (2) an application under this subsection for insurance coverage must be submitted in accordance with procedures established by the Employees Retirement System of Texas. (f-1) The department shall require payment of the cost associated with paying the state contribution of a member of the state military forces who elects to participate in the state group benefits program under Subsection (f) by the person responsible for paying for the mission for which the member is on state active duty or state training and other duty. On receipt of payment, the department shall reimburse the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas for that cost. (g) The adjutant general and the Employees Retirement System of Texas shall coordinate and consult to implement the benefits program provided by Subsection (f) and shall adopt a memorandum of understanding to establish: (1) the procedures that a member of the state military forces may use to elect to participate in the state group benefits program; (2) an appropriate method to annually confirm continuing eligibility to participate in the group benefits program; and (3) an appropriate method of administering the reimbursement of the state contribution as required by Subsection (f-1). (h) A service member who is on active guard reserve status, including a member serving on orders issued under Title 10 or 32, United States Code, may not receive state active duty pay or state training and other duty pay. (i) A service member who is a federal technician in a paid status may not receive state active duty pay or pay for state training and other duty unless the member is on a military leave or leave without pay status from the federal employment. (j) Claims of discrimination by service members on state active duty shall be processed in accordance with military regulations and procedures established for the Texas military forces; and are exempt from the jurisdiction of the Texas Workforce civil rights division. (k) A member of Texas Military Forces called to state active duty is subject to the regulations established for continued membership in the specific component including but not limited to medical readiness, drug testing, physical fitness and training requirements. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1217 (S.B. 1536), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2013. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 340 (H.B. 577), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1059 (H.B. 2123), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2016.