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. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 434.0072, 434.0073, 434.0074, and
434.0075 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.0072. WEBSITE. (a) The Department of Information
Resources shall establish an Internet site using "TexasOnline" to
allow veterans to access information on state and federal veterans
benefits programs.
(b) The website must 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 by the Texas Veterans Commission.
(c) The website may allow a veteran to electronically file
for selected federal veterans benefits as specified by the Texas
Veterans Commission upon reprints.
Sec. 434.0073. COMMISSION FORMS. Commission forms shall
contain the Internet website address of TexasOnline benefits
information and toll-free telephone number.
Sec. 434.0074. 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 hard copy and 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.
The commission shall place an electronic version of the
booklet on its website.
(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. The veterans county service officer shall make a copy
of the booklet available at the county veterans' service office.
(c) The commission may update the booklet as necessary.
Sec. 434.0075. ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO NEWSLETTER OR SERVICES.
The commission, within available resources and with the assistance
of the executive director of the Department of Information
Resources, shall 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.
The Commission, within available resources, shall work with
the Windham Intermediate School District to establish a process
whereby refurbished computers in a quantity jointly determined by
the Commission and District shall be provided at no cost to
interested county service officers. County service officers that
obtain computers through this process shall make computers
available to veterans served by their respective counties either on
site or through a lending process in a manner determined by the
county service officers and approved by the county commissioners
court.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.039 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.039. OFFICER PERFORMANCE. The commission shall
provide on their website information that may be voluntarily used
by counties to link evaluations of officer performance with the
percentage of veterans benefits claims successfully filed by an
officer.
SECTION 3. 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. As new forms are published, and within available resources,
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 have as its goal an
agency workforce composed of at least 40 percent veterans.
SECTION 4. 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 5. Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 105.003 to read as follows:
Sec. 105.003. ELECTRONIC VOTING. (a) Within existing
appropriations, the secretary of state shall explore the
feasibility of establishing a process whereby a person may 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) who will be outside the United States on election
day and during the early voting period for the election.
(b) The secretary of state shall recommend possible means by
which:
(1) upon the request of a person described in (1) and
(2) of Sec. 105.003, an electronic ballot may be sent to and
received from the voter;
(2) the identity of the voter may be verified;
(3) the security of the electronic transmission may be
ensured; and
(4) any other requirements the secretary of state
determines are necessary may be met.
SECTION 6. 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 434.0075, Government Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 7. Not later than December 1, 2005, the secretary of
state shall submit recommendations to the Legislature regarding an
electronic system as required by Section 105.003, Election Code, as
added by this Act.
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.