By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 591
(Blanco)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a community outreach campaign to increase awareness of
veterans benefits and services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.024 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.024. VETERANS COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.
(a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall conduct a community
outreach campaign to provide information relating to and increase
awareness of benefits and services available to veterans,
including:
(1) claims assistance services;
(2) technology services, including the veterans
website under Section 434.102;
(3) health, financial, rehabilitation, and housing
services;
(4) employment and reemployment services;
(5) legal services, including the veterans treatment
court program under Chapter 124;
(6) state and federal education benefits;
(7) grants available to veterans;
(8) entrepreneurial services under Section 434.022;
and
(9) mental health services.
(b) The community outreach campaign must include outreach
efforts at:
(1) community centers;
(2) places of worship; and
(3) any other place in a community where veterans
routinely gather, as determined by the commission.
(c) The commission shall collaborate with, and may contract
with, community-based, nonprofit, or private organizations to
implement the community outreach campaign under this section.
(d) The commission may solicit and accept gifts and grants
to fund the community outreach campaign under this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2018, the Texas
Veterans Commission shall establish the veterans community
outreach campaign as required under Section 434.024, Government
Code, as added by this Act, and shall adopt any rules necessary to
implement the campaign.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.