By:  Wise                                                         H.B. No. 72 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to priority status for the admission of certain veterans 
to workforce development programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is 
amended by adding Section 302.010 to read as follows:
	Sec. 302.010.  PRIORITY STATUS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. (a)  In 
accepting an applicant for job training and employment services, 
the commission and any other provider of services shall grant 
priority for admission to the services to a veteran who satisfies 
the requirements of this section.
	(b)  To receive priority under this section, the veteran must 
meet the eligibility criteria and qualifications for the specific 
program and apply to the commission or services provider, as 
appropriate, for priority status.  The application must include 
information or be accompanied by documentation that satisfies the 
commission or provider that the applying veteran served:
		(1)  on active duty and was discharged or released from 
active duty with an honorable discharge or because of an 
established service-connected disability; or
		(2)  as a member of a reserve component on active duty 
during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign 
badge or ribbon is authorized and was discharged or released from 
the duty with an honorable discharge.
	(c)  The commission shall adopt rules and prescribe forms as 
necessary to administer this section.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.