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Senate Bill 1655 |
Senate Author: Van de Putte |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
House Sponsor: Farias |
Senate Bill 1655 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Lottery Commission to create and operate an instant-ticket lottery game to benefit the fund for veterans' assistance. The bill sets forth the commission's duties in operating the lottery game. It requires the commission to market and advertise the game in a manner intended to inform the public that game tickets are available and that proceeds are used to benefit Texas veterans and to begin selling tickets by March 2, 2010. The bill provides for the deposit of unclaimed prize money into the fund for veterans' assistance after certain other appropriations and for the distribution of a portion of the money in the state lottery account to that fund. The bill authorizes the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to use appropriated funds to purchase, for use at outreach and training functions, food, beverages, and promotional items that include the agency's name and contact information to be distributed to veterans. The bill provides for the confidentiality of information received by the TVC regardless of the format in which it is maintained.
Senate Bill 1655 authorizes the TVC to solicit, accept, or refuse a gift or grant of money, services, or property for any purpose related to the fund for veterans' assistance. The bill excludes space leased by the TVC to administer the veterans employment services program from provisions governing the lease of space for state agencies.