House Bill 1515

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 33-3-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI MEDAL OF VALOR WHICH IS TO BE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO THOSE MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES WHILE IN ACTIVE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY AWARD THE MISSISSIPPI MEDAL OF VALOR TO MEMBERS OR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART OR THE MEDAL OF HONOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 33-3-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

33-3-17. (1) The Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to decorate members and former members of the Mississippi National Guard and members and former members of the national guard of the several states and members and former members of the armed forces of the United States, who he may deem worthy of such decoration, with such awards, medals or decorations as he may prescribe by rules and regulations promulgated by him, and the Governor is hereby authorized to promulgate suitable and reasonable rules and regulations for such purposes.

(2) The Governor shall award posthumously the Mississippi Medal of Valor to those members of the Mississippi National Guard who gave their lives while in active service of the United States as defined in Section 33-1-1(l).

(3) The Governor may award retroactively the Mississippi Medal of Valor to a member or former member of the armed forces of the United States if such member has been awarded the Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart.

(4) The design of the Mississippi Medal of Valor is as follows: A gold medal with the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi superimposed on a cross combined with crossed sabers with the words "MEDAL FOR VALOR" inscribed around the seal. The medal is suspended from a ribbon of navy blue background, with two wide, vertical white bands. The recipient's name and rank are engraved in the reverse side of the medal. The ribbon carries the same colors as described for the medal.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.