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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: Van de Putte |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
There are approximately 1.7 million veterans in Texas. As servicemembers of the U.S. Armed Forces return from serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the number of veterans will continue to increase as will 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), which is a special dedicated fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund and administered by the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC).
Current law does not allow 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 well as the state employee charitable campaign.
SB 1940 authorizes money in the fund to be appropriated to TVC to make grants to address veterans' needs and administer the fund. SB 1940 authorizes TVC to solicit and 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. This bill provides that TVC, for the sole purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is considered an eligible charitable organization entitled to participate in the state employee charitable campaign, and entitles a state employee to authorize a deduction for contributions to TVC for the purpose of managing the fund as a charitable contribution. This bill also entitles a person, when a person registers a motor vehicle, to make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the fund.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SB 1940 amends the Government Code to provide that the fund for veteran's assistance (fund) is a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, and is composed of certain revenue, including money deposited to the fund to the credit of the fund under Section 502.1746, Transportation Code. It authorizes money in the fund to be appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to make grants to address veterans' needs and to administer the fund. Further, it authorizes TVC to carry out any purpose of this chapter, to solicit and 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. Authorizes a gift, grant, devise, or bequest 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, grant, devise, or bequest by the donor or granting entity. Deletes existing text authorizing the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) to solicit and accept gifts and grants to the fund.
SB 1940 amends the Government Code by adding Section 434.0171, to provide that for purposes of Subchapter I, Chapter 659 TVC, for the sole purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is considered an eligible charitable organization entitled to participate in the state employee charitable campaign; and entitles a state employee to authorize a deduction for contributions to TVC for the purposes of managing the fund and authorizes TVC to use the contributions for the purposes listed in Section 434.017(c), as redesignated and amended by Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
SB1940 amends the Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.1746, to entitle a person, when a person registers a motor vehicle, to make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the fund and requires the county assessor-collector to send any contribution made under this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the fund before the 31st day after the date the contribution is made.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.