Bill Text: TX HB3237 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment and operation of the Texas Women Veterans Program.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-18 - No action taken in committee [HB3237 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB3237-Engrossed.html
| 82R1087 CJC-F | ||
| By: Hernandez Luna, Alvarado, Gonzalez | H.B. No. 3237 | |
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| relating to the establishment and operation of the Texas Women | ||
| Veterans Program. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subchapter D to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER D. TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM | ||
| Sec. 434.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
| (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. | ||
| (2) "Executive director" means the executive director | ||
| of the commission. | ||
| (3) "Program" means the Texas Women Veterans Program. | ||
| (4) "Woman veteran" means a woman who: | ||
| (A) served on active duty in the armed forces of | ||
| the United States or in the Texas National Guard on federal active | ||
| duty under Title 10, United States Code; and | ||
| (B) was discharged or released from that service | ||
| under conditions other than dishonorable. | ||
| Sec. 434.152. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM; PROGRAM MISSION. | ||
| (a) The Texas Women Veterans Program is established in the | ||
| commission. The program is attached to the office of the executive | ||
| director for administrative purposes. | ||
| (b) The mission of the program is to ensure that the women | ||
| veterans of this state have equitable access to federal and state | ||
| veterans' benefits and services. | ||
| Sec. 434.153. COORDINATOR. The executive director shall | ||
| designate a women veterans coordinator for this state. | ||
| Sec. 434.154. GENERAL PROGRAM DUTIES. The program shall: | ||
| (1) provide assistance to the women veterans of this | ||
| state as provided by this subchapter; | ||
| (2) perform outreach functions to improve the | ||
| awareness of women veterans of their eligibility for federal and | ||
| state veterans' benefits and services; | ||
| (3) assess the needs of women veterans with respect to | ||
| benefits and services; | ||
| (4) review programs, research projects, and other | ||
| initiatives designed to address the needs of the women veterans of | ||
| this state; | ||
| (5) make recommendations to the executive director | ||
| regarding the improvement of benefits and services to women | ||
| veterans; and | ||
| (6) incorporate issues concerning women veterans in | ||
| commission planning regarding veterans' benefits and services. | ||
| Sec. 434.155. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS. (a) The | ||
| program shall advocate for women veterans and work to increase | ||
| public awareness about the gender-specific needs of women veterans. | ||
| (b) The program shall recommend legislative initiatives and | ||
| the development of policies on the local, state, and national | ||
| levels to address the issues affecting women veterans. | ||
| Sec. 434.156. COLLABORATION. The program shall collaborate | ||
| with federal, state, and private agencies that provide services to | ||
| women veterans. | ||
| Sec. 434.157. RESEARCH; DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. (a) | ||
| The program shall monitor and research issues relating to women | ||
| veterans. | ||
| (b) The program shall disseminate information regarding | ||
| opportunities for women veterans throughout the network of entities | ||
| with which the program collaborates. | ||
| Sec. 434.158. EDUCATION. Through conferences, seminars, | ||
| and training workshops with federal, state, and private agencies, | ||
| the program shall provide guidance and direction to a woman veteran | ||
| who is applying for grants, benefits, or services. | ||
| Sec. 434.159. HONOR AND RECOGNITION. The program shall | ||
| promote events and activities that recognize and honor the women | ||
| veterans of this state and women who serve in the military. | ||
| Sec. 434.160. FACILITIES. To the extent funding is | ||
| available for that purpose, the program shall provide facilities | ||
| as appropriate in support of the program. | ||
| Sec. 434.161. FUNDING. On behalf of the program, the | ||
| executive director may accept and spend funds: | ||
| (1) appropriated to the commission for the operation | ||
| of the program; and | ||
| (2) received from other sources, including donations | ||
| and grants. | ||
| 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, 2011. | ||
