| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 7 | | relating to information about services for women veterans provided |
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| 6 | 8 | | through certain state agency applications. |
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| 7 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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| 9 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 434.212 to read as follows: |
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| 10 | 12 | | Sec. 434.212. APPLICATION FOR STATE AGENCY PROGRAMS, |
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| 11 | 13 | | SERVICES, OR ASSISTANCE. (a) This section applies to a state |
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| 12 | 14 | | agency in the executive branch of state government, including a |
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| 13 | 15 | | health and human services agency, that provides to adult women in |
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| 14 | 16 | | this state a program, a service, or assistance, including the |
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| 15 | 17 | | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the supplemental |
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| 16 | 18 | | nutrition assistance program, the women's health program, |
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| 17 | 19 | | Medicaid, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, |
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| 18 | 20 | | Infants, and Children, and a housing program or service or housing |
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| 19 | 21 | | assistance. |
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| 20 | 22 | | (b) A state agency shall include in each application for a |
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| 21 | 23 | | program, a service, or assistance provided by the agency to adult |
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| 22 | 24 | | women: |
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| 23 | 25 | | (1) a space to indicate whether the applicant is a |
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| 24 | 26 | | veteran; and |
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| 25 | 27 | | (2) model language informing the applicant that she |
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| 26 | 28 | | may be entitled to additional services because of her veteran |
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| 27 | 29 | | status. |
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| 28 | 30 | | (c) The commission shall develop the model language |
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| 29 | 31 | | required on an application under Subsection (b)(2). The language |
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| 30 | 32 | | must include a link to the veterans website established under |
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| 31 | 33 | | Section 434.102 or, for an online application, a hyperlink to that |
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| 32 | 34 | | website. |
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| 33 | 35 | | SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas |
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| 34 | 36 | | Veterans Commission shall develop the model application language |
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| 35 | 37 | | required by Section 434.212, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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| 36 | 38 | | and post that information on the commission's Internet website. |
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| 37 | 39 | | (b) Not later than March 1, 2018, each state agency subject |
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| 38 | 40 | | to Section 434.212, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall |
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| 39 | 41 | | modify the agency's application for programs, services, or |
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| 40 | 42 | | assistance as necessary to implement that section. |
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| 41 | 43 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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| 42 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 43 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 44 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1677 passed the Senate on |
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| 45 | | - | May 1, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. |
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| 46 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 47 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 48 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1677 passed the House on |
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| 49 | | - | May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 12, three |
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| 50 | | - | present not voting. |
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| 51 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 53 | | - | Approved: |
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| 54 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 55 | | - | Date |
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| 56 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 57 | | - | Governor |
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