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