SRC-MAX S.B. 1202 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1202
By: Lucio
Veterans Affairs
4-17-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas is one of the few states that does not provide state
cemeteries for veterans.  There are a few veterans cemeteries in the
state, but a number are closed, and many individual veterans are more than
500 miles form the nearest active cemetery.  A profile of Texas developed
by the Veterans Administration National Cemetery System concluded in
August 1994 that 681,283 Texas veterans were not being served by the
existing cemetery system.  S.B. 1202 requires the Texas Veterans
Commission to determine the need for establishing state cemeteries for
veterans. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1202 requires the Texas Veterans Commission to determine
the need for establishing state cemeteries for veterans. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 434A, Government Code, by adding Section
434.0076, as follows: 

 Sec.  434.0076.  FINDINGS AND STUDY ABOUT STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES.
Provides that the legislature finds that this state is one of the few
states that does not provide state cemeteries for  veterans.  Provides
that this legislature also finds that some federal cemeteries for veterans
in this state are closed and that many veterans in this state live far
from the nearest open veterans cemetery.  Provides that it is the intent
of this legislature to determine the extent to which there exists in this
state the need to provide state cemeteries for veterans.  Requires the
Texas Veterans Commission (commission)  to contract with a qualified
consulting firm to study the need and the feasibility of establishing a
system of state cemeteries for veterans under the jurisdiction of the
commission or of another agency of state government.  Sets forth the
requirements for this study.  Requires the commission to present the
written findings of the study to the governor and the presiding officer of
each house of the legislature before December 1, 1999.  Provides that the
commission is required to enter into a contract under this section only if
the legislature appropriates money for that purpose. Authorizes the
commission to use available resources to conduct its own study of the
issue if the legislature does not appropriate money for the contract.
Provides that this section expires June 1, 2001. 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.