By:  Wise                                                         H.B. No. 80 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a permanent fund for certain veterans' 
care purposes.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 403, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 403.108 to read as follows:
	Sec. 403.108.  PERMANENT FUND FOR VETERANS' CARE. (a)  The 
permanent fund for veterans' care is a special fund in the state 
treasury outside the general revenue fund.  The fund is composed of:
		(1)  money transferred to the fund at the direction of 
the legislature;
		(2)  gifts and grants contributed to the fund; and                     
		(3)  the available earnings of the fund determined in 
accordance with Section 403.1068.
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (e), money in 
the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose.
	(c)  The available earnings of the fund may be appropriated 
to:       
		(1)  the Veterans' Land Board for programs relating to 
veterans' homes under Chapter 164, Natural Resources Code;
		(2)  the Texas Veterans Commission:                                    
			(A)  to make grants to counties for the purpose of 
purchasing burial grounds for veterans under Section 713.029, 
Health and Safety Code; and
			(B)  if the commission is authorized to do so 
under other law, to design, build, and operate a system of state 
veterans' cemeteries; and
		(3)  the Texas Veterans Commission to improve or 
enhance veterans' health care and to make grants to local 
communities to address veterans' health care needs.
	(d)  The Texas Veterans Commission may adopt rules governing 
the award of grants by the commission under this section.
	(e)  The comptroller may solicit and accept gifts and grants 
to the fund.  A gift or grant to the fund may be appropriated in the 
same manner as the available earnings of the fund, subject to any 
limitation or requirement placed on the gift or grant by the donor 
or granting entity.
	(f)  Sections 403.095 and 404.071 do not apply to the fund.             
	SECTION 2.  Section 403.1068(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  This section applies only to management of the permanent 
funds established under Sections 403.105, 403.1055, 403.106, 
403.1065, [and] 403.1066, and 403.108.
	SECTION 3.  On the effective date of this Act, the 
comptroller shall transfer $150 million from the general revenue 
fund to the permanent fund for veterans' care established by 
Section 403.108, Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.