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AN ACT
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relating to reintegration counseling services and related |
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resources for military servicemembers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 431.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Servicemember" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 161.551, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 431.0291 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 431.0291. SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall develop a program to provide referrals to |
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servicemembers for reintegration services. |
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(b) The program shall: |
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(1) identify and make referrals to community-based |
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organizations that have existing programs that provide |
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reintegration services to servicemembers and their families; |
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(2) focus on early intervention and appropriate |
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referral to promote the health of servicemembers and the children |
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and other family members of the servicemembers; |
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(3) promote family cohesion and sustainability; |
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(4) be based on evidence-based best practices related |
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to meeting the needs of servicemembers and the children and other |
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family members of the servicemembers; |
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(5) be carried out, when appropriate, in a community |
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setting through peer counseling and other means effective for |
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community outreach; |
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(6) use existing service delivery facilities, |
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including churches, National Guard Bureau family education |
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facilities, and veterans centers and support facilities; |
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(7) use community-based and faith-based |
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organizations; |
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(8) be developed and administered in a manner that |
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promotes collaboration of service providers and results in the |
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referral of servicemembers, their children, and other family |
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members to the appropriate federal, state, and community services |
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for which they are eligible; and |
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(9) provide information and referral services |
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regarding the risks and consequences of trauma, including |
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post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other |
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conditions for which servicemembers are at risk. |
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(c) The department shall ensure that: |
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(1) each person who provides referrals to |
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servicemembers under the referral program has received sufficient |
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training to ensure that servicemembers receive accurate |
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information; and |
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(2) servicemembers are notified in a timely manner |
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about the service referral program. |
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(d) In developing the referral program, the department |
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shall consult with the state military forces, the National Guard |
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Bureau, the United States Veterans Health Administration, the Texas |
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A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and The University |
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of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. |
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SECTION 3. Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.007. DUTIES. The commission shall: |
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(1) compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to |
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benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families |
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and dependents; |
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(2) collect information relating to services and |
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facilities available to veterans; |
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(3) cooperate with veterans service agencies in the |
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state; |
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(4) inform members and veterans of the armed forces, |
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their families and dependents, and military and civilian |
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authorities about the existence or availability of: |
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(A) educational training and retraining |
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facilities; |
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(B) health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing |
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services and facilities; |
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(C) employment and reemployment services; |
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(D) provisions of federal, state, and local law |
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affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans |
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of the armed forces and their families and dependents; and |
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(E) other similar, related, or appropriate |
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matters; |
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(5) assist veterans and their families and dependents |
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in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges, |
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rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local |
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law; |
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(6) cooperate with all government and private agencies |
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securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and |
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dependents; |
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(7) investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or |
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exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and |
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recommend necessary legislation for full correction; |
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(8) coordinate the services and activities of state |
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departments and divisions having services and resources affecting |
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veterans or their families or dependents; [and] |
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(9) provide training and certification of veterans |
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county service officers and assistant veterans county service |
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officers in accordance with Section 434.038; and |
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(10) through surveys or other reasonable and accurate |
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methods of estimation, collect and maintain for each county in the |
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state the number of servicemembers and veterans residing in the |
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county and annually update and publish the information on the |
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commission's website. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.107. DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. (a) The commission |
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shall collaborate with and assist the Department of State Health |
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Services and the Health and Human Services Commission in compiling |
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and maintaining the directory of services established under Section |
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161.552, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The commission shall provide the directory of services |
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established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety Code, on the |
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commission's website or through links appearing on the commission's |
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website. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.093 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.093. SERVICES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL. (a) In |
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this section, "servicemember" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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161.551, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall ensure that each |
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health and human services agency adopts policies and procedures |
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that require the agency to: |
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(1) identify servicemembers who are seeking services |
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from the agency during the agency's intake and eligibility |
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determination process; and |
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(2) direct servicemembers seeking services to |
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appropriate service providers, including the United States |
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Veterans Health Administration, National Guard Bureau facilities, |
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and other federal, state, and local service providers. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall make the directory of |
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resources established under Section 161.552, Health and Safety |
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Code, accessible to each health and human services agency. |
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SECTION 6. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter U to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER U. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY |
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PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES |
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Sec. 161.551. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(3) "Servicemember" means a resident of this state who |
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is a member or former member of the state military forces or a |
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component of the United States armed forces, including a reserve |
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component. In this section, "state military forces" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 431.001, Government Code. |
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Sec. 161.552. DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. (a) The department |
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and commission shall compile, maintain, and disseminate through the |
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Texas Information and Referral Network and through other |
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appropriate media, a directory of services and other resources, |
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tools, and counseling programs available to servicemembers and |
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their immediate family. |
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(b) The directory must include: |
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(1) information regarding counseling services that: |
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(A) facilitate the reintegration of the |
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servicemember into civilian and family life; |
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(B) identify and treat stress disorders, trauma, |
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and traumatic brain injury; |
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(C) address parenting and family well-being, |
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employment, and substance abuse issues; and |
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(D) provide crisis intervention services; |
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(2) to the greatest degree possible in the judgment of |
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the department, all private and public community, state, and |
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national resources that protect and promote the health and |
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well-being of servicemembers and their immediate family and that |
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are accessible in the state directly or through electronic media, |
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print media, or the Internet; and |
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(3) other resources that support the health of |
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servicemembers and their families. |
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(c) The department and commission shall organize the |
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directory in a manner that allows a person to locate services in a |
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specific community in the state. |
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(d) The department and commission shall develop and |
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maintain the directory in collaboration with local, state, and |
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national private and government organizations, including: |
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(1) the United States Veterans Health Administration; |
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(2) the United States Department of Defense; |
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(3) the adjutant general's department; |
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(4) the Texas Veterans Commission; and |
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(5) other public and private national and |
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community-based organizations that provide support to |
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servicemembers and their families. |
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(e) The department shall provide the directory to the Texas |
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Information and Referral Network of the commission in the time |
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periods and in the manner and format specified by the Texas |
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Information and Referral Network. |
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(f) The department shall provide the directory on the |
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department's website or through links appearing on the department's |
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website. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1058 passed the Senate on |
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April 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; |
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May 24, 2007, Senate refused to concur in House amendment and |
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requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2007, House |
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granted request of the Senate; May 27, 2007, Senate adopted |
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Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 30, |
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Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1058 passed the House, with |
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amendment, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 144, |
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Nays 0, two present not voting; May 26, 2007, House granted request |
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of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; |
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May 27, 2007, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the |
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following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, two present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |