By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1940
Davis, Zaffirini
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the fund for veterans' assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (a), (c), and (e), Section 434.017,
Government Code, as redesignated and amended by Chapter 1418 (H.B.
3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in
the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund is
composed of:
(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of
the legislature;
(2) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 502.1746, Transportation Code;
(3) gifts and grants contributed to the fund; and
(4) [(3)] the earnings of the fund.
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated to the Texas
Veterans Commission to:
(1) enhance or improve veterans' assistance programs,
including veterans' representation and counseling; [and]
(2) make grants to [local communities to] address
veterans' needs; and
(3) administer the fund.
(e) To carry out any purpose of this chapter, the Texas
Veterans Commission may solicit and accept a gift, grant, devise,
bequest of money, security, service, or property, including money
raised or a service provided by a volunteer or volunteer group, to
promote the work of the commission. The commission may participate
in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit
organization that is established for the purpose of raising money
for or providing services or other benefits to the commission [The
comptroller may solicit and accept gifts and grants to the
fund]. A gift, [or] grant, devise, or bequest to the fund may be
appropriated in the same manner as other money in the fund, subject
to any limitation or requirement placed on the gift, [or] grant,
devise, or bequest by the donor or granting entity.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.0171 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.0171. STATE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUND FOR
VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. For purposes of Subchapter I, Chapter 659:
(1) the Texas Veterans Commission, for the sole
purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is
considered an eligible charitable organization entitled to
participate in the state employee charitable campaign; and
(2) a state employee is entitled to authorize a
deduction for contributions to the Texas Veterans Commission for
the purposes of managing the fund for veterans' assistance as a
charitable contribution under Section 659.132, and the Texas
Veterans Commission may use the contributions for the purposes
listed in Section 434.017(c), as redesignated and amended by
Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 502.1746 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.1746. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO VETERANS'
ASSISTANCE FUND. (a) When a person registers a motor vehicle
under this chapter, the person is entitled to make a voluntary
contribution in any amount to the fund for veterans' assistance
established by Section 434.017, Government Code, as redesignated
and amended by Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
(b) The county assessor-collector shall send any
contribution made under this section to the comptroller for deposit
in the state treasury to the credit of the fund for veterans'
assistance before the 31st day after the date the contribution is
made.
SECTION 4. 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.