By:  Fraser, Truan                                     S.B. No. 976
           Bernsen
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to establishing a permanent fund for veterans care.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 403.108 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 403.108.  PERMANENT FUND FOR VETERANS CARE.  (a)  The
 1-7     permanent fund for veterans care is a special fund in the state
 1-8     treasury outside the general revenue fund.  The fund is composed
 1-9     of:
1-10                 (1)  money transferred to the fund at the direction of
1-11     the legislature;
1-12                 (2)  gifts and grants contributed to the fund; and
1-13                 (3)  the available earnings of the fund determined in
1-14     accordance with Section 403.1068.
1-15           (b)  Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d), money in
1-16     the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose.
1-17           (c)  The available earnings of the fund may be appropriated
1-18     to fund, enhance, and improve veterans programs as directed by the
1-19     legislature.
1-20           (d)  The comptroller may solicit and accept gifts and grants
1-21     to the fund.  A gift or grant to the fund may be appropriated in
1-22     the same manner as the available earnings of the fund, subject to
1-23     any limitation or requirement placed on the gift or grant by the
1-24     donor or granting entity.
1-25           (e)  Sections 403.095 and 404.071 do not apply to the fund.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 403.1068, Government
 2-2     Code, is amended to read as follows:
 2-3           (a)  This section applies only to management of the permanent
 2-4     funds established under Sections 403.105, 403.1055, 403.106,
 2-5     403.1065, [and] 403.1066, and 403.108.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.