| 1 | 1 | | 88R2727 SCP-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond, Lopez of Bexar H.B. No. 542 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a study on state land use to facilitate health and |
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| 8 | 8 | | wellness for veterans. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. STUDY REGARDING STATE LAND USE FOR VETERANS. (a) |
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| 11 | 11 | | In collaboration with the General Land Office, the Texas Historical |
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| 12 | 12 | | Commission, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas |
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| 13 | 13 | | Veterans Commission shall conduct a study to identify and assess |
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| 14 | 14 | | the use of state land, including state parks, for the purpose of |
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| 15 | 15 | | facilitating health and wellness for veterans. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) In conducting the study, the Texas Veterans Commission |
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| 17 | 17 | | shall: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) identify barriers that limit opportunities to |
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| 19 | 19 | | supplement the delivery to veterans of services for health and |
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| 20 | 20 | | wellness through the use of outdoor recreation on state land; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) develop recommendations to better facilitate the |
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| 22 | 22 | | use of state land for promoting wellness and facilitating the |
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| 23 | 23 | | delivery of health care and therapeutic interventions for veterans. |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 2. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than November |
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| 25 | 25 | | 1, 2024, the Texas Veterans Commission shall submit to the |
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| 26 | 26 | | governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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| 27 | 27 | | representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the |
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| 28 | 28 | | legislature with jurisdiction over veterans' issues a report on the |
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| 29 | 29 | | results of the study conducted under Section 1 of this Act and any |
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| 30 | 30 | | recommendations of the commission related to the study, including |
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| 31 | 31 | | any statutory changes necessary to authorize the use of state land |
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| 32 | 32 | | for the health and wellness of veterans. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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| 35 | 35 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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| 36 | 36 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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| 37 | 37 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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| 38 | 38 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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