S.B. No. 805
AN ACT
relating to Texas women veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 434.203, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.203. COORDINATOR. (a) The executive director
shall designate a women veterans coordinator for this state.
(b) The coordinator or the coordinator's designee shall
serve as a liaison between state and federal agencies and
organizations that provide benefits and services to women veterans.
SECTION 2. Section 434.204, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
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; and
(7) in collaboration with appropriate state agencies,
provide information to women veterans on services and resources
provided by state or federal agencies and organizations to women
veterans.
SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 434.212, 434.213, and 434.214 to read as
follows:
Sec. 434.212. WOMEN VETERANS REPORT. Not later than
November 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit
to the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature a report on
women veterans in this state. The report may be delivered
electronically and must:
(1) estimate the:
(A) number of women veterans in this state;
(B) number of women veterans who contact the
commission for assistance; and
(C) number of women veterans who receive
assistance from the commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, the
Department of State Health Services, and other state agencies;
(2) identify the unique problems faced by women
veterans; and
(3) recommend policy proposals, initiatives, and
funding levels to address the problems identified in Subdivision
(2).
Sec. 434.213. WOMEN VETERANS COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.
The women veterans coordinator designated under Section 434.203, in
consultation with the Governor's Commission for Women, the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs, and any other appropriate
agency, shall conduct a community outreach campaign to:
(1) provide information relating to and increase
awareness of benefits and services available to women veterans;
(2) improve access to benefits and services for women
veterans;
(3) increase participation of women veterans in
programs that provide benefits and services;
(4) provide information on the significant
contributions of women veterans in this state; and
(5) provide information relating to and increase
awareness of support groups and other organizations relating to
family services, including services for women veterans who are
single parents.
Sec. 434.214. APPLICATION FOR STATE AGENCY PROGRAMS,
SERVICES, OR ASSISTANCE. (a) This section applies to a state
agency in the executive branch of state government, including a
health and human services agency, that provides to adult women in
this state a program, a service, or assistance, including the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the supplemental
nutrition assistance program, the women's health program,
Medicaid, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children, and a housing program or service or housing
assistance.
(b) A state agency shall include in each application for a
program, a service, or assistance provided by the agency to adult
women:
(1) a space to indicate whether the applicant is a
veteran; and
(2) model language informing the applicant that she
may be entitled to additional services because of her veteran
status.
(c) The commission shall develop the model language
required on an application under Subsection (b)(2). The language
must include a link to the veterans website established under
Section 434.102 or, for an online application, a hyperlink to that
website.
SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 662, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 662.065 to read as follows:
Sec. 662.065. WOMEN VETERANS DAY. (a) June 12 is Women
Veterans Day to recognize the role of women in the military forces
and to commemorate the sacrifices of and valor displayed by Texas
women veterans.
(b) Women Veterans Day shall be regularly observed by
appropriate programs and activities.
SECTION 5. Not later than November 1, 2018, the women
veterans coordinator shall establish the women veterans community
outreach campaign as required under Section 434.213, Government
Code, as added by this Act, and the Texas Veterans Commission shall
adopt any rules necessary to implement the campaign.
SECTION 6. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas
Veterans Commission shall develop the model application language
required by Section 434.214, Government Code, as added by this Act,
and post that information on the commission's Internet website.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2018, each state agency subject
to Section 434.214, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall
modify the agency's application for programs, services, or
assistance as necessary to implement that section.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 805 passed the Senate on
May 2, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; and that the
Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, 2017, by the
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 805 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146,
Nays 0, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor