By: Lopez of Cameron H.B. No. 5123
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation, distribution, and posting of a veterans
benefits at each Department of Public Safety office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 411.0917 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.0197. VETERANS BENEFITS AND SERVICES POSTER. (a)
The Department of Public Safety shall, in consultation with the
Texas Veterans Commission, create and distribute to each veteran in
this state a veterans benefits and services pamphlet containing
information relating to:
(1) how a veteran can:
(A) apply for unemployment compensation benefits
under Subtitle A and unemployment compensation benefits that may be
offered under a program administered by an agency of the federal
government;
(B) contact the Texas Veterans Commission,
including how a veteran may access the Internet website maintained
by the Texas Veterans Commission and the veterans crisis hotline
established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
under 38 U.S.C. Section 1720F;
(C) exercise any tax benefits or preferences
offered to veterans under the Tax Code or Internal Revenue Code of
1986; and
(D) obtain a driver's license or personal
identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety; and
(2) services that may be available to veterans in this
state, including:
(A) education, workforce placement, and training
programs;
(B) legal assistance; and
(C) substance abuse and mental health treatment.
(c) the department shall display the veterans benefits and
services poster distributed by the commission under this section
in a conspicuous place in each department office.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Department
of Public Safety shall, in consultation with the Texas Veterans
Commission, create and distribute the veterans benefits and
services poster as required by Section 411.0197, Government Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.