BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1939
81R11434 CS-F By: Van de Putte
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
There are approximately 1.7 million veterans in Texas. As servicemembers of the United States armed forces return from serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the number of veterans will continue to increase. Unfortunately, along with this growth are the unmet needs of veterans. To help meet the needs of this growing population, the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, established the Fund for Veterans' Assistance (fund).
Current law does not allow the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to issue grants on a statewide basis nor is TVC allowed to utilize money appropriated to the fund for administrative costs. Additionally, current law does not allow the fund to operate as a nonprofit organization, thus precluding the fund from being eligible for many private donations.
As proposed, S.B. 1939 authorizes TVC to make grants on a statewide basis rather than limiting the issuance of grants to local communities. This bill also authorizes TVC to utilize money in the fund for administration of the fund, and authorizes TVC, rather than the comptroller of public accounts, to accept gifts and grants to promote the work of TVC. S.B. 1939 allows TVC to establish and operate a nonprofit organization for the purpose of raising money for the fund or providing other services or benefits.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 434.017(c) and (e), Government Code, to be redesignated and amended by Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, as follows:
(c) Authorizes money in the Fund for Veterans' Assistance (fund) to be appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to make grants to address veterans' needs, rather than to local communities to address veterans' needs, and administer the fund. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
(e) Authorizes TVC, to carry out any purpose of this chapter, to accept a gift, grant, devise, bequest of money, security, service, or property, including money raised or a service provided by a volunteer or volunteer group, to promote the work of TVC. Authorizes TVC to participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization that is established for the purpose of raising money for or providing services or other benefits to TVC. Deletes existing text authorizing the comptroller of public accounts to solicit and accept gifts and grants to the fund. Deletes existing text authorizing a gift or grant to the fund to be appropriated in the same manner as other money in the fund, subject to any limitation or requirement placed on the gift or grant by the donor or granting entity.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.