85R25510 SMT-D
By: Blanco, Guillen H.B. No. 1973
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1973:
By: Button C.S.H.B. No. 1973
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to employment and referral services for veterans and
military service members.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Sections 302.0033 and 302.00335 to read as
follows:
Sec. 302.0033. OPERATION WELCOME HOME PROGRAM. (a) The
commission shall establish and administer the Operation Welcome
Home program to expedite the entry of veterans and military service
members into the workforce through the use of enhanced employment
services. In establishing the program, the commission shall build
partnerships between military transition centers and local
workforce development boards to ensure the availability of
employment services, including services related to:
(1) education;
(2) career technical training; and
(3) entrepreneurship.
(b) The commission may award grants to state, local, or
private entities that perform activities related to the purposes of
this section.
(c) The commission shall administer the program using money
previously appropriated to the commission or received from federal
or other sources.
(d) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the
administration of this section.
Sec. 302.00335. TEXAS VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. (a)
The commission, in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission,
shall establish a Texas Veterans Leadership Program.
(b) The mission of the program is to serve as a resource and
referral network connecting veterans with the resources and tools
they need to lead productive lives and enjoy the full benefits of
the society they have willingly served.
(c) The program shall collaborate with local workforce
development boards to provide services to veterans under this
section. The program may collaborate with other federal, state,
county, municipal, and private agencies to provide services to
veterans under this section.
(d) The program shall employ veterans to serve as veteran
resource and referral specialists. A veteran resource and referral
specialist shall:
(1) seek out veterans in need of services;
(2) serve as a resource and referral agent, directing
veterans to resources tailored to veterans' needs;
(3) make referrals and coordinate with other programs
of the commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and other
federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies that
provide services for veterans relating to:
(A) employment;
(B) education and training;
(C) medical care;
(D) mental health and counseling; and
(E) veterans benefits; and
(4) coordinate the services of volunteer veterans
familiar with the obstacles faced by veterans to assist in
mentoring and serving veterans.
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, 2017.