Bill Text: TX HB1736 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to assisting inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in obtaining federal veterans disability benefits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-10 - Considered in Calendars [HB1736 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1736-Introduced.html
87R5670 BDP-D | ||
By: Romero, Jr. | H.B. No. 1736 |
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relating to assisting inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal | ||
Justice in obtaining federal veterans disability benefits. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 501.071 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 501.071. ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING FEDERAL VETERANS | ||
DISABILITY BENEFITS. For purposes of assisting an inmate who is a | ||
veteran in obtaining federal veterans disability benefits, the | ||
department shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after | ||
receiving a request from the inmate: | ||
(1) an appropriate medical or health care | ||
professional: | ||
(A) assists the inmate in completing a disability | ||
benefits questionnaire at the facility in which the inmate is | ||
confined or at another appropriate location; or | ||
(B) conducts any necessary examination or | ||
evaluation of the inmate at the facility in which the inmate is | ||
confined or at another appropriate location; and | ||
(2) the questionnaire or other documents required for | ||
the inmate to receive benefits are submitted to the United States | ||
Department of Veterans Affairs or a veterans service organization | ||
chartered by the United States Congress or recognized by the United | ||
States Department of Veterans Affairs. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |