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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to assisting inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice in obtaining federal veterans disability benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.071 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.071. ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING FEDERAL VETERANS |
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DISABILITY BENEFITS. For purposes of assisting an inmate who is a |
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veteran in obtaining federal veterans disability benefits, the |
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department shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after |
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receiving a request from the inmate: |
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(1) an appropriate medical or health care |
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professional: |
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(A) assists the inmate in completing a disability |
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benefits questionnaire at the facility in which the inmate is |
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confined or at another appropriate location; or |
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(B) conducts any necessary examination or |
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evaluation of the inmate at the facility in which the inmate is |
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confined or at another appropriate location; and |
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(2) the questionnaire or other documents required for |
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the inmate to receive benefits are submitted to the United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs or a veterans service organization |
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chartered by the United States Congress or recognized by the United |
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States Department of Veterans Affairs. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |