78(R) SB 655 - Engrossed version


                                                                                



By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 655


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to members and veterans of the armed forces.                         
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter C to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C.  TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS
	Sec. 434.101.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                        
		(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.                 
		(2)  "TexasOnline" has the meaning assigned by Section 
2054.003.     
	Sec. 434.102.  VETERANS WEBSITE.  (a)  The Department of 
Information Resources shall establish and maintain on TexasOnline a 
veterans website.  The website must allow veterans to access 
information on state and federal veterans benefits programs.
	(b)  A state agency that participates in the veterans website 
is encouraged to allow a veteran to electronically file for state 
veterans benefits, including the electronic signing of the filing 
by the veteran and an electronic acknowledgment of the filing.
	(c)  The veterans website may allow a veteran to 
electronically file for selected federal veterans benefits, as 
specified by the commission.
	Sec. 434.103.  COMMISSION FORMS.  Commission forms shall 
contain:     
		(1)  the veterans website address maintained under 
Section 434.102; and
		(2)  the commission's toll-free telephone number.                      
	Sec. 434.104.  BENEFITS BOOKLETS.  (a)  Not later than 
February 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall create 
an electronic version of a state veterans benefits booklet and 
provide a printed copy and an electronic version of the booklet to:
		(1)  each veterans county service officer; and                         
		(2)  the personnel office of each state or federal 
military installation in this state.
	(b)  A veterans county service officer is encouraged to 
distribute a copy of the booklet to any person who claims or will 
claim Texas as a residence after discharge from the United States 
armed forces.
	(c)  Each veterans county service officer shall make a copy 
of the booklet available at the veterans county service office.
	(d)  The commission may update the booklet as necessary.                
	(e)  The commission shall provide an electronic version of 
the booklet on the commission's website.
	Sec. 434.105.  ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO NEWSLETTER OR SERVICES.  
The commission, with the assistance of the executive director of 
the Department of Information Resources, may develop and implement 
a program that uses appropriate computer hardware and software and 
required training programs to facilitate electronic:
		(1)  delivery of a veterans newsletter; and                            
		(2)  initiation of veterans benefits claims by veterans 
county service officers.
	Sec. 434.106.  DONATIONS; COMPUTERS FOR VETERANS COUNTY 
SERVICE OFFICERS.  (a)  The commission may accept donated computers 
from any person, including a governmental entity, and cooperate 
with that person to establish a program to provide computers at no 
cost to interested veterans county service officers.
	(b)  A veterans county service officer who obtains a computer 
under this program shall:
		(1)  make the computer available to veterans at the 
veterans county service office; or
		(2)  lend the computer to veterans in a manner 
determined by the officer and approved by the county commissioners 
court.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 656, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 656.027 to read as follows:
	Sec. 656.027.  PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS ON STATE EMPLOYMENT 
FORMS.  The commission shall include on all forms relating to state 
agency employment that are prescribed by the commission under this 
subchapter or other law a statement regarding the requirement 
prescribed by Chapter 657 that each state agency give a veterans 
employment preference until the agency workforce is composed of at 
least 40 percent veterans.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Natural Resources 
Code, is amended by adding Section 161.075 to read as follows:
	Sec. 161.075.  INFORMATION FOR LENDING INSTITUTIONS.  
(a)  In this section, "lending institution" has the meaning 
assigned by Section 161.502.
	(b)  On request, the board shall provide to a lending 
institution information regarding state land and housing benefits 
programs for veterans in this state.
	SECTION 4.  Sections 434.103 and 656.027, Government Code, 
as added by this Act, apply only to a form printed on or after the 
effective date of this Act.  A form printed before the effective 
date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed when the form 
was printed, and the former law is continued in effect for that 
purpose.
	SECTION 5.  Not later than September 1, 2004, the Texas 
Veterans Commission and the executive director of the Department of 
Information Resources shall develop and implement the initial 
program required by Section 434.105, Government Code, as added by 
this Act.
	SECTION 6.  (a)  Under the authority granted by Section 
434.106, Government Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Veterans 
Commission shall work with the Windham School District to establish 
a program to provide refurbished computers at no cost to interested 
veterans county service officers.
	(b)  The Texas Veterans Commission and the Windham School 
District shall jointly determine the quantity of refurbished 
computers for the program.
	SECTION 7.  (a)  The secretary of state shall study the 
feasibility and cost of establishing procedures to allow a person 
to cast an electronic ballot if the person is:
		(1)  a member of the armed forces of the United States 
who is on active duty overseas; or
		(2)  a spouse or dependent of a person described by 
Subdivision (1) of this subsection who will be outside the United 
States on election day and during the early voting period for the 
election.
	(b)  As part of the study, the secretary of state shall 
recommend options to:
		(1)  allow the person to request, receive, and send an 
electronic ballot;   
		(2)  verify the voter's identity;                                             
		(3)  ensure the security of the electronic 
transmission; and                
		(4)  meet any other requirements the secretary of state 
determines necessary.
	(c)  Not later than December 1, 2005, the secretary of state 
shall submit the study, including the recommendations, to the 
legislature.
	SECTION 8.  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.