Bill Text: TX SB1796 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled

Texas Senate Bill 1796 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [SB1796 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB1796-Enrolled.html



	S.B. No. 1796




	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of the Texas Coordinating Council for
	Veterans Services.
	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 COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR VETERANS SERVICES
	Sec. 434.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1) "Council" means the Texas Coordinating Council for
	Veterans Services.
	(2) "Servicemember" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 161.551, Health and Safety Code.
	Sec. 434.152. TEXAS COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR VETERANS
	SERVICES. The Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services is
	established to:
	(1) coordinate the activities of state agencies that
	assist veterans, servicemembers, and their families;
	(2) coordinate outreach efforts that ensure that
	veterans, servicemembers, and their families are made aware of
	services; and
	(3) facilitate collaborative relationships among
	state, federal, and local agencies and private organizations to
	identify and address issues affecting veterans, servicemembers,
	and their families.
	Sec. 434.153. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. The council is
	composed of the executive head of the following agencies, or that
	person's designated representative:
	(1) the Texas Veterans Commission;
	(2) the Veterans' Land Board;
	(3) the adjutant general's department;
	(4) the Health and Human Services Commission; and
	(5) the State Bar of Texas.
	Sec. 434.154. COORDINATING WORKGROUPS; ADDITIONAL COUNCIL
	MEMBERS. (a) The council may, by majority vote, establish the
	following coordinating workgroups to focus on specific issues
	affecting veterans, servicemembers, and their families:
	(1) health or mental health;
	(2) employment;
	(3) higher education;
	(4) criminal justice;
	(5) housing; and
	(6) any other coordinating workgroup considered
	necessary.
	(b) If the council votes to establish a health or mental
	health coordinating workgroup, the membership of the council also
	includes the executive head of the following agencies, or that
	person's designated representative:
	(1) the Department of State Health Services;
	(2) the Department of Aging and Disability Services;
	and
	(3) the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
	Services.
	(c) If the council votes to establish an employment
	coordinating workgroup, the membership of the council also includes
	the executive head of the following agencies, or that person's
	designated representative:
	(1) the Texas Workforce Commission; and
	(2) the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
	(d) If the council votes to establish a higher education
	coordinating workgroup, the membership of the council also includes
	the commissioner of higher education, or the commissioner's
	designated representative.
	(e) If the council votes to establish a criminal justice
	coordinating workgroup, the membership of the council also includes
	the executive head of the following entities, or that person's
	designated representative:
	(1) the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with
	Medical or Mental Impairments; and
	(2) the Commission on Jail Standards.
	(f) If the council votes to establish a housing coordinating
	workgroup, the membership of the council also includes the
	executive head of the following agencies, or that person's
	designated representative:
	(1) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
	Affairs; and
	(2) the Texas Department of Rural Affairs.
	(g) Each member of the council may invite one organization
	or agency that provides services to veterans, servicemembers, and
	their families, but that is not otherwise a member of the council,
	to designate a representative to participate in a coordinating
	workgroup through procedures established by the council.
	Sec. 434.155. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive director of
	the Texas Veterans Commission shall serve as the presiding officer.
	Sec. 434.156. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
	annually and at the call of the presiding officer.
	Sec. 434.157. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. (a) The council is
	administratively attached to the Texas Veterans Commission. The
	Texas Veterans Commission may provide administrative support and
	resources to the council as necessary to enable the council to
	perform its duties.
	(b) A state agency represented on the council shall support
	the agency's involvement with the council and provide staff support
	as needed to the council.
	(c) The designated representative of any organization or
	agency that accepts an invitation to serve on a coordinating
	workgroup of the council under Section 434.154(g) is not entitled
	to compensation, but is entitled to reimbursement of the
	representative's travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660 and the
	General Appropriations Act.
	Sec. 434.158. REPORT BY COUNCIL. Not later than October 1
	of each even-numbered year, the council shall submit a report to the
	governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
	representatives, and chairs of the appropriate committees of the
	legislature detailing the work of the council and any
	recommendations.
	SECTION 2. The presiding officer of the Texas Coordinating
	Council for Veterans Services shall call the initial meeting of the
	council not later than November 1, 2011.
	SECTION 3. This Act does not make an appropriation or
	require a specific appropriation. Any new duty imposed on a state
	agency as a result of the Act can be performed through the
	appropriations provided by the legislature as part of the existing
	responsibilities of the state agency.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.





	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1796 passed the Senate on
	April 28, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2011, by the
	following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.


	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1796 passed the House, with
	amendment, on May 25, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 147,
	Nays 0, one present not voting.


	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House



	Approved:

	______________________________
	Date


	______________________________
	Governor