By: Farias, Lucio III (Senate Sponsor - Rodriguez) H.B. No. 634
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 4, 2013;
April 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Criminal Justice; May 9, 2013, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 9, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the verification of an inmate's veteran status by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 501.023 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.023. VERIFICATION OF INMATE VETERAN STATUS. (a)
In this section, "system" means the Public Assistance Reporting
Information System (PARIS) operated by the Administration for
Children and Families of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services.
(b) The department shall:
(1) investigate and verify the veteran status of each
inmate by using data made available from the system through the
Health and Human Services Commission; and
(2) use system data to assist inmates who are veterans
in applying for federal benefits or compensation for which the
inmates may be eligible under a program administered by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs.
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, 2013.
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