81R19797 KJM-F By: Turner of Tarrant, Raymond, Guillen, H.B. No. 3950 Pea, et al. Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3950: By: Turner of Tarrant C.S.H.B. No. 3950 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the temporary housing in a housing facility of a public university of certain veterans receiving health care treatment. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9112 to read as follows: Sec. 51.9112. VETERAN'S TEMPORARY HOUSING IN INSTITUTION HOUSING FACILITY. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. (b) A veteran receiving health care services from a hospital, health clinic, or other facility operated by the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs may stay, free of charge, in a vacant room of a housing facility located at and operated by an institution of higher education while the veteran is receiving the health care services if: (1) the institution is able to accommodate and approves the veteran's request for temporary housing and the institution is located a reasonable distance from the hospital, health clinic, or other facility providing health care services to the veteran; and (2) the veteran resides more than 100 miles from the hospital, health clinic, or other facility providing health care services to the veteran. (c) The primary or other necessary caregiver to a veteran described by Subsection (b) may stay, free of charge, in a vacant room of a housing facility located at and operated by an institution of higher education while the veteran is receiving health care services from a facility operated by the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs if: (1) the institution is able to accommodate and approves the caregiver's request for temporary housing and the institution is located a reasonable distance from the facility providing health care services; (2) Subsection (b)(2) applies; and (3) the veteran is staying either at an institution housing facility as provided by Subsection (b) or at the facility providing health care services. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.