HB40 Alabama 2021 Session

Under current law, a member of the National Guard or the Naval Militia of Alabama may wear certain decorations and medals on his or her uniform, including decorations and medals relating to the Civil War, both confederate and federal service

This bill would prohibit a member of the National Guard or the Naval Militia of Alabama from wearing on his or her uniform any decorations or medals relating to service to the confederacy during the Civil War

Also under current law, the Armory Commission of Alabama may permit the use of any armory by various patriotic and civic organizations

This bill would remove any specific reference to the Sons of Confederate and Federal Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy from the list of organizations allowed by the Armory Commission of Alabama to use an armory

This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style

Relating to military affairs and civil defense; to amend Section 31-2-77, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a member of the National Guard or Naval Militia of Alabama from wearing decorations or medals relating to confederate service on his or her uniform; to amend Section 31-4-14, Code of Alabama 1975, to remove certain groups from the list of organizations allowed by the Armory Commission of Alabama to use an armory; to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Section 1

Sections 31-2-77 and 31-4-14, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§31-2-77.

All service medals and decorations awarded for service in the United States Armed Forces, and authorized to be worn with the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, are authorized for the uniform of the National Guard and Naval Militia of Alabama on occasions prescribed for officers of the United States Armed Forces; provided, that. The the following state medals and decorations are authorized for wear with the uniform of the National Guard and Naval Militia of the State of Alabama: State service medals authorized in this chapter; medals and decorations awarded by recognized patriotic organizations such as are associated with the service of Revolutionary War ancestry; the War of 1812; the Mexican War; the Civil War, both confederate and relating to federal service; the Spanish American War; the World Wars, 1917-1918, 1941-1945; Korea; Viet Nam; and such other medals and decorations as may be recommended by the Military Advisory Board of the State and approved by the Governor; provided further, that only. Only one service medal or similar insignia each, for the United States or state, shall be worn for any one war. This provision shall section does not apply to decorations of the state or the United States, or foreign decorations, the award of which has been approved by the state and the United States, that are subjects of individual citations, such as the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the French Croix de Guerre, and similar decorations.

§31-4-14.

Whenever in the opinion of the Armory Commission it is practicable to do so, each armory of the National Guard or Naval Militia shall contain a room suitable for meetings of associations composed of veterans of the Spanish-American War, the World Wars, the Korean War and the Viet Nam War, and shall be available for such meetings under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the commanding officer of the National Guard unit or units using such the armory. The Armory Commission of Alabama may permit the use of any armory for assembly and other purposes of various patriotic and civic organizations such as the Sons of Confederate and Federal Veterans, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Daughters of the Confederacy, the Chamber of Commerce, etc. and other similar organizations, as may be deemed advisable, where the use does not interfere with the use of the armory by the National Guard unit or units occupying same. When the unit or units of the National Guard or Naval Militia occupying an armory ceases to exist for any reason, the Armory Commission shall make a decision whether it is in the best interest of the state to keep the armory or whether the same shall be sold and the proceeds deposited back in the Armory Fund, or if same should be rented and the proceeds placed in the Armory Fund. Any sales made must shall be public ones and have the time, place, and terms of the proposed sale advertised for one month prior to the sale in at least six daily newspapers of the state, of which at least three must shall be outside the county in which the armories are located, and each must shall be in different cities."

Section 2

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.