By: Van de Putte, et al. S.B. No. 1199
(Guillen)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to development of a pilot program of the Texas Veterans
Commission to designate municipalities as Veteran and Military
Friendly Cities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.022 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.022. PILOT PROGRAM TO DESIGNATE VETERAN AND
MILITARY FRIENDLY CITIES. (a) The commission may develop a pilot
program to designate qualifying municipalities as Veteran and
Military Friendly Cities. The commission may establish the
criteria to qualify for a designation under the pilot program
developed under this section.
(b) The criteria established under Subsection (a) must
include an evaluation of a municipality's ability to provide
services for veterans and members of the military, taking into
consideration the availability in the municipality of:
(1) a local or county veterans service office;
(2) suitable housing for veterans and members of the
military;
(3) financial support for veterans and members of the
military;
(4) employment resources for veterans and members of
the military;
(5) education and training programs for veterans and
members of the military;
(6) a veterans court; and
(7) access to health care for veterans, including
mental health services and mental health services peer-to-peer
networks.
(c) The commission may accept and review applications for
the designation and issue tiered designations, as appropriate.
(d) The commission may by rule establish a procedure for
discouraging and preventing the misappropriation of the phrase
"Veteran and Military Friendly City."
(e) The commission shall report the results of the pilot
program under this section to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
committees in both houses of the legislature having jurisdiction
over veterans and military issues not later than December 31, 2014.
(f) This section expires September 1, 2015.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.