Bill Text: TX HB1973 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to employment and referral services for veterans and military service members.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-12 - Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm. [HB1973 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB1973-Comm_Sub.html
| 85R25510 SMT-D | |||
| By: Blanco, Guillen | H.B. No. 1973 | ||
| Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1973: | |||
| By: Button | C.S.H.B. No. 1973 | ||
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| relating to employment and referral services for veterans and | ||
| military service members. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Sections 302.0033 and 302.00335 to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| Sec. 302.0033. OPERATION WELCOME HOME PROGRAM. (a) The | ||
| commission shall establish and administer the Operation Welcome | ||
| Home program to expedite the entry of veterans and military service | ||
| members into the workforce through the use of enhanced employment | ||
| services. In establishing the program, the commission shall build | ||
| partnerships between military transition centers and local | ||
| workforce development boards to ensure the availability of | ||
| employment services, including services related to: | ||
| (1) education; | ||
| (2) career technical training; and | ||
| (3) entrepreneurship. | ||
| (b) The commission may award grants to state, local, or | ||
| private entities that perform activities related to the purposes of | ||
| this section. | ||
| (c) The commission shall administer the program using money | ||
| previously appropriated to the commission or received from federal | ||
| or other sources. | ||
| (d) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the | ||
| administration of this section. | ||
| Sec. 302.00335. TEXAS VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) | ||
| The commission, in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission, | ||
| shall establish a Texas Veterans Leadership Program. | ||
| (b) The mission of the program is to serve as a resource and | ||
| referral network connecting veterans with the resources and tools | ||
| they need to lead productive lives and enjoy the full benefits of | ||
| the society they have willingly served. | ||
| (c) The program shall collaborate with local workforce | ||
| development boards to provide services to veterans under this | ||
| section. The program may collaborate with other federal, state, | ||
| county, municipal, and private agencies to provide services to | ||
| veterans under this section. | ||
| (d) The program shall employ veterans to serve as veteran | ||
| resource and referral specialists. A veteran resource and referral | ||
| specialist shall: | ||
| (1) seek out veterans in need of services; | ||
| (2) serve as a resource and referral agent, directing | ||
| veterans to resources tailored to veterans' needs; | ||
| (3) make referrals and coordinate with other programs | ||
| of the commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and other | ||
| federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies that | ||
| provide services for veterans relating to: | ||
| (A) employment; | ||
| (B) education and training; | ||
| (C) medical care; | ||
| (D) mental health and counseling; and | ||
| (E) veterans benefits; and | ||
| (4) coordinate the services of volunteer veterans | ||
| familiar with the obstacles faced by veterans to assist in | ||
| mentoring and serving veterans. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
