H.B. No. 2951
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a service dog pilot program for
certain veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.029. SERVICE DOG PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
VETERANS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Pilot program" means the pilot program
established under this section.
(3) "Veteran" means an individual who has served in:
(A) an active or reserve component of the army,
navy, air force, coast guard, space force, or marine corps of the
United States; or
(B) the Texas National Guard, as defined by
Section 431.001.
(b) The commission by rule shall establish a pilot program
for veterans to assist in mitigating the symptoms of military
service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain
injury, or military sexual trauma through the provision of a
service dog.
(c) The commission shall issue a request for proposals from
nonprofit corporations to provide trained service dogs and training
and services to veterans who participate in the pilot program.
(d) The commission shall approve one or more nonprofit
corporations to provide services through the pilot program. The
commission may not approve a nonprofit corporation unless the
corporation:
(1) has demonstrated experience working with veterans
who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic
brain injury, or military sexual trauma;
(2) is authorized to conduct business in this state;
(3) is able to provide follow-up services to a veteran
who participates in the pilot program and the veteran's service
dog; and
(4) adheres to the standards of Assistance Dogs
International.
(e) A nonprofit corporation that is approved to provide
services under the pilot program shall:
(1) employ professional staff to train dogs to become
service dogs for veterans participating in the pilot program;
(2) provide each veteran participating in the pilot
program a fully trained service dog;
(3) instruct each veteran participating in the pilot
program on maintaining the service dog's health and training;
(4) while a veteran is participating in the pilot
program, ensure that regular mental health and depression
assessments are conducted on the veteran; and
(5) be able to provide a veteran participating in the
pilot program a new service dog if the veteran's service dog:
(A) is incompatible with the veteran; or
(B) dies or is otherwise unable to fulfill the
dog's duty as a service dog before the fourth anniversary of the
date the veteran received the service dog under the pilot program.
(f) All goods and services provided to a veteran as part of
the pilot program, including a veteran's service dog, must be
provided at no cost to the veteran.
(g) A service dog provided by a nonprofit corporation as
part of the pilot program must:
(1) complete a training program accredited by
Assistance Dogs International;
(2) comply with any requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.); and
(3) be evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure the dog is
medically fit to serve as a service dog.
(h) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations
to fund the pilot program.
(i) Not later than October 1, 2026, the commission shall
prepare and submit a report evaluating the pilot program to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the
legislature. The report must include:
(1) recommendations for legislative or other action;
and
(2) an evaluation of the pilot program's
effectiveness, including a recommendation on whether the pilot
program should be continued, expanded, or terminated.
(j) The pilot program concludes and this section expires
September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. The Texas Veterans Commission shall adopt rules
to administer the pilot program established under Section 434.029,
Government Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2951 was passed by the House on May 6,
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2951 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor