Senate Bill 20-082 Summary

• Repeals the long service medal statute (28-3-1201) that previously awarded medals to National Guard members with ten years of service.

• Modifies meritorious conduct, meritorious service, and active service medals to allow the Department discretionary authority to award these medals to any persons serving with or supporting the Department, including non-military personnel, rather than limiting awards to National Guard members only.

• Creates a new Colorado Legion of Merit Medal that the Department may award to members or non-members who have rendered service in an exceptional, unprecedented, or superior manner in positions of senior leadership, significant responsibility, or extremely difficult duty.

• Repeals four ribbon awards: noncommissioned officer/soldier/airman of the year ribbon, foreign deployment service ribbon, state mobilization support ribbon, and command tour ribbon.

• Changes lapel button distribution to require request and makes it available to "any actively participating officer and enlisted person" rather than automatic distribution to all members.