By: West, et al. S.B. No. 1476
(Sheffield of Bell, Miller of Fort Bend, et al.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the veteran entrepreneur program by the
Texas Veterans Commission.
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. VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "veteran" means a person who has served in:
(1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine
corps of the United States; or
(2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section
431.001.
(b) The Texas Veterans Commission by rule shall establish
and implement the veteran entrepreneur program to foster and
promote veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership.
(c) The program shall provide assistance to veteran
entrepreneurs and business owners by:
(1) performing outreach functions to improve veteran
entrepreneurs' and business owners' awareness of federal and state
benefits and services available to those veterans;
(2) assessing the need for benefits and services among
veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
(3) reviewing and researching programs, projects, and
initiatives designed to address the needs of veteran entrepreneurs
and business owners;
(4) periodically evaluating the effectiveness of the
commission's efforts to assist veteran entrepreneurs and business
owners and making appropriate recommendations to the executive
director of the commission to improve services and assistance
provided to those veterans;
(5) incorporating issues concerning veteran
entrepreneurs and business owners into the commission's plans for
assisting veterans in securing benefits and services;
(6) advocating for veteran entrepreneurs and working
to increase public awareness about the needs of veteran
entrepreneurs and business owners;
(7) recommending legislative initiatives and policies
at the local, state, and national levels to address the issues
affecting veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership;
(8) collaborating with federal, state, and private
agencies that provide services to veteran entrepreneurs and
business owners to allow the veterans to make use of those services;
(9) monitoring and researching issues affecting the
interests of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
(10) providing information about opportunities for
veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's
collaborative network of businesses and organizations;
(11) providing guidance to veteran entrepreneurs and
business owners through conferences, seminars, and training
workshops with federal, state, and private agencies; and
(12) promoting events and activities that recognize or
honor veteran entrepreneurs and business owners.
(d) The executive director of the commission shall appoint a
program coordinator to administer the program.
(e) The commission shall provide facilities as appropriate
in support of the program to the extent funding is available for
that purpose.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Veterans
Commission shall adopt rules establishing the veteran entrepreneur
program required by Section 434.022, Government Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.