Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1940

Filed

Out of Senate Committee

4/6/09

Voted on by Senate

4/16/09

Out of House Committee

5/13/09

Voted on by House

5/26/09

Governor Action

6/19/09

Bill Becomes Law

Enrolled

5/29/09

Passed

6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the fund for veterans' assistance and to the establishment of pretrial veterans court programs.

Impact

The enactment of SB1940 will amend existing laws to broaden the funding streams for veterans' assistance programs. By formalizing the donation process through payroll deductions, the bill is designed to increase financial support for initiatives aimed at improving veterans' representation, counseling, and community grants. This could potentially lead to more robust programs that address the diverse needs of veterans across Texas and reinforce the state’s commitment to serving this demographic.

Summary

Senate Bill 1940 aims to enhance the support for veterans in Texas by facilitating state employee contributions to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance. This bill allows the Texas Veterans Commission to be recognized as an eligible charitable organization for the state employee charitable campaign. It enables state employees to authorize deductions from their paychecks for donations, specifically aimed at helping the Texas Veterans Commission manage the veterans' assistance fund more effectively. This initiative promotes a continued commitment to veterans' welfare through direct participation by state personnel.

Contention

Discussions surrounding the bill could foreseeably revolve around whether this approach adequately addresses the diverse needs of veterans and if it incentivizes state employees sufficiently to contribute. Opponents may argue that reliance on employee contributions might not guarantee a steady funding stream, especially during economic downturns. Furthermore, the allocation of funds raised from these contributions may also be a point of debate, emphasizing the need for transparency on how donations will be utilized by the Texas Veterans Commission.