By: Hernandez, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Garcia) H.B. No. 867
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 2015;
May 15, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations; May 21, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2015,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment and operation of the Texas Women
Veterans Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM
Sec. 434.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Executive director" means the executive director
of the commission.
(3) "Program" means the Texas Women Veterans Program.
(4) "Woman veteran" means a woman who:
(A) served on active duty in the armed forces of
the United States or in the Texas National Guard on federal active
duty under Title 10, United States Code; and
(B) was discharged or released from that service
under conditions other than dishonorable.
Sec. 434.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM; PROGRAM MISSION.
(a) The Texas Women Veterans Program is established in the
commission. The program is attached to the office of the executive
director for administrative purposes.
(b) The mission of the program is to ensure that the women
veterans of this state have equitable access to federal and state
veterans' benefits and services.
Sec. 434.203. COORDINATOR. The executive director shall
designate a women veterans coordinator for this state.
Sec. 434.204. GENERAL PROGRAM DUTIES. The program shall:
(1) provide assistance to the women veterans of this
state as provided by this subchapter;
(2) perform outreach functions to improve the
awareness of women veterans of their eligibility for federal and
state veterans' benefits and services;
(3) assess the needs of women veterans with respect to
benefits and services;
(4) review programs, research projects, and other
initiatives designed to address the needs of the women veterans of
this state;
(5) make recommendations to the executive director
regarding the improvement of benefits and services to women
veterans; and
(6) incorporate issues concerning women veterans in
commission planning regarding veterans' benefits and services.
Sec. 434.205. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS. (a) The
program shall advocate for women veterans and work to increase
public awareness about the gender-specific needs of women veterans.
(b) The program shall recommend legislative initiatives and
the development of policies on the local, state, and national
levels to address the issues affecting women veterans.
Sec. 434.206. COLLABORATION. The program shall collaborate
with federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies that
provide services to women veterans.
Sec. 434.207. RESEARCH; DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. (a)
The program shall monitor and research issues relating to women
veterans.
(b) The program shall disseminate information regarding
opportunities for women veterans throughout the network of entities
with which the program collaborates.
Sec. 434.208. EDUCATION. Through conferences, seminars,
and training workshops with federal, state, county, municipal, and
private agencies, the program shall provide guidance and direction
to a woman veteran who is applying for grants, benefits, or
services.
Sec. 434.209. HONOR AND RECOGNITION. The program shall
promote events and activities that recognize and honor the women
veterans of this state and women who serve in the military.
Sec. 434.210. FACILITIES. To the extent funding is
available for that purpose, the program shall provide facilities as
appropriate in support of the program.
Sec. 434.211. FUNDING; GRANTS. On behalf of the program,
the commission may:
(1) accept and spend funds:
(A) appropriated to the commission for the
operation of the program; and
(B) received from other sources, including
donations and grants; and
(2) provide matching grants to assist in the
implementation of the program's goals and objectives.
SECTION 2. Section 434.017(e), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(e) To carry out any purpose of this chapter, the commission
may solicit, accept, or refuse 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 for any purpose related to the fund for
veterans' assistance. 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 or a
program established in the commission, including the Texas Women
Veterans Program. A gift, grant, devise, or bequest to the fund may
be appropriated in the same manner as other money in the fund,
subject to the purposes provided by Subsection (c) and any
limitation or requirement placed on the gift, grant, devise, or
bequest by the donor or granting entity.
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, 2015.
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