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          AN ACT
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        relating to the use of the fund for veterans' assistance. | 
      
      
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               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 434.017, Government  | 
      
      
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        Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
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               (c)  Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas  | 
      
      
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        Veterans Commission.  Money appropriated under this subsection  | 
      
      
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        shall be used to: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  [enhance or improve veterans' assistance programs, 
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          including veterans' representation and counseling;
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                     [(2)]  make grants to address veterans' needs; and | 
      
      
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                     (2) [(3)]  administer the fund. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  Subsections (a) and (e), Section 434.017,  | 
      
      
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        Government Code, as amended by Chapters 840 (S.B. 1940) and 1385  | 
      
      
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        (S.B. 1655), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009,  | 
      
      
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        are reenacted and amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
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               (a)  The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in  | 
      
      
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        the state treasury outside the general revenue fund.  The fund is  | 
      
      
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        composed of: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  money transferred to the fund at the direction of  | 
      
      
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        the legislature; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  gifts and grants contributed to the fund; | 
      
      
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                     (3)  the earnings of the fund; [and] | 
      
      
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                     (4)  money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the  | 
      
      
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        lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to the  | 
      
      
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        fund under Section 466.408(b); and | 
      
      
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                     (5) [(2)]  money deposited to the credit of the fund  | 
      
      
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        under Section 502.1746, Transportation Code. | 
      
      
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               (e)  To carry out any purpose of this chapter, the commission  | 
      
      
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        [Texas Veterans Commission] may solicit, [and] accept, or refuse a  | 
      
      
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        gift, grant, devise, bequest of money, security, service, or  | 
      
      
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        property, including money raised or a service provided by a  | 
      
      
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        volunteer or volunteer group, to promote the work of the commission  | 
      
      
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        for any purpose related to the fund for veterans' assistance.  The  | 
      
      
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        commission may participate in the establishment and operation of an  | 
      
      
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        affiliated nonprofit organization that is established for the  | 
      
      
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        purpose of raising money for or providing services or other  | 
      
      
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        benefits to the commission.  A gift, grant, devise, or bequest to  | 
      
      
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        the fund may be appropriated in the same manner as other money in  | 
      
      
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        the fund, subject to the purposes provided by Subsection (c) and any  | 
      
      
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        limitation or requirement placed on the gift, grant, devise, or  | 
      
      
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        bequest by the donor or granting entity. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
      
      
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        a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
      
      
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        provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
      
      
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        Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
      
      
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        Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | 
      
      
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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. 1739 passed the Senate on  | 
      
      
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        April 14, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, 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. 1739 passed the House on  | 
      
      
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        May 19, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, one  | 
      
      
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        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 |