Wyoming national guard member referral.

23LSO-0005

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
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HB0038

ENROLLED ACT NO. 64,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to defense forces and affairs; creating the Wyoming national guard member referral incentive program; authorizing monetary incentive bonus payments as specified; providing definitions; requiring an annual report; providing a sunset date for the program; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
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W.S. 19
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9
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403 by creating a new subsection (e) is amended to read:

19
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9
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403.

Pay and allowances of officers and enlisted persons in active state service and state active duty; worker's compensation coverage for national guard members; no pension denied by reason of service; Wyoming national guard member referral incentive program.

(e)

There is created the Wyoming national guard member referral incentive program. The purpose of the program shall be to incentivize and maximize peer
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to
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peer recruiting that results in a completed accession to the Wyoming national guard by providing a referral bonus to Wyoming national guard members who make a successful referral. Administration of this program shall require that:

(i)

A Wyoming national guard member may provide the identity and contact information of a person who the member believes would be an appropriate recruitment prospect using a form provided by the Wyoming national guard, which includes the person's name, contact information and any other information required by the military department;

(ii)

The military department shall keep a record of all forms submitted under paragraph (i) of this subsection. Upon the completed accession of a referred person and to the extent sufficient funds are available, the military department shall distribute a referral bonus to the member who provided the successful referral;

(iii)

Beginning July 15, 2024 and annually every July 15 thereafter, the Wyoming military department shall report regarding the Wyoming national guard member referral incentive program to the joint transportation, highways and military affairs interim committee and shall include in the report the number of referral forms submitted, the number of successful referrals, the amounts of referral bonuses paid and any recommended legislation;

(iv)

As used in this subsection:

(A)

"Completed accession" means the referred person signs the referred person's name to an enlistment contract for entry or re
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entry after prior service into the Wyoming national guard;

(B)

"Referral bonus" means a monetary payment set each calendar year by the adjutant general not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00);

(C)

"Successful referral" means providing the identity and contact information pursuant to paragraph (e)(i) of this subsection of any person not already a member of the Wyoming national guard that results in a completed accession to the Wyoming national guard.

(v)

This subsection is repealed effective July 1, 2026.

Section 2.

There is appropriated two hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($215,000.00) from the general fund to the Wyoming military department for the purposes of making the cash bonus payments authorized by this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2026. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2026. It is the intent of the legislature that the appropriation in this subsection be included in the military department's 2027
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2028 standard budget request if the Wyoming national guard member referral incentive program is reauthorized by legislation before the submittal of the 2027
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2028 biennial budget.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2023.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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