82R1845 MCK-D
By: Fletcher H.B. No. 1172
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to resources available to the Texas Veterans Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 434.017, Government Code, as amended by
Chapters 840 (S.B. 1940) and 1385 (S.B. 1655), Acts of the 81st
Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.017. FUND FOR VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. (a) The fund
for veterans' assistance is a special fund in the state treasury
outside the general revenue fund. The fund is divided into two
accounts, the federal money account and the state money account.
(a-1) The federal money account is composed of:
(1) federal money transferred to the fund at the
direction of the legislature; and
(2) the earnings of the account.
(a-2) The state money account is composed of:
(1) state money transferred to the fund at the
direction of the legislature;
(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
(3) the earnings of the account [fund]; [and]
(4) money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the
lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to the
fund under Section 466.408(b); and
(5) [(2)] money deposited to the credit of the fund
under Section 502.1746, Transportation Code.
(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c), (c-1), and (e),
money in the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose.
(c) Money in the federal money account of the fund may be
appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission only for purposes
authorized by federal law.
(c-1) Money in the state money account of the fund may be
appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission only to:
(1) enhance or improve veterans' assistance programs,
including veterans' representation and counseling;
(2) make grants to address veterans' needs, including
expenses for entertainment, housing, travel, and food; and
(3) administer the fund.
(d) The Texas Veterans Commission may adopt rules governing
the award of grants by the commission under this section.
(e) The commission may solicit, accept, or refuse a gift or
grant of money, services, or property for any purpose related to the
state money account of the fund for veterans' assistance. A gift or
grant to the fund may be appropriated in the same manner as other
money in the fund, subject to the purposes provided by Subsection
(c-1) and any limitation or requirement placed on the gift or grant
by the donor or granting entity.
(f) Sections 403.095 and 404.071 do not apply to the fund.
SECTION 2. The Texas Veterans Commission shall perform an
accounting of the unobligated and unexpended balance in the fund
for veterans' assistance at the end of the state fiscal year ending
August 31, 2011, to determine the portion of the balance that is
federal money and the portion of the balance that is state money.
The commission shall deposit the unobligated and unexpended balance
of the fund that is federal money into the federal money account of
the fund established under Section 434.017(a), Government Code, as
amended by this Act, and deposit the unobligated and unexpended
balance of the fund that is state money into the state money account
of the fund established under Section 434.017(a), Government Code,
as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.