|   | 
|   | 
| 
 		
			 | 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 | 
| 
 
			 | 
AN ACT
 | 
| 
 
			 | 
relating to participation in job training and employment assistance  | 
| 
 
			 | 
programs by veterans and other covered persons. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 1.  Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding  | 
| 
 
			 | 
Subchapter G to read as follows: | 
| 
 
			 | 
SUBCHAPTER G.  PRIORITY OF SERVICE IN JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT  | 
| 
 
			 | 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 302.151.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter: | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (1)  "Active military, naval, or air service" has the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
meaning assigned by 38 U.S.C. Section 101(24). | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (2)  "Covered person" has the meaning assigned by 38  | 
| 
 
			 | 
U.S.C. Section 4215(a).  The term includes the spouse of any member  | 
| 
 
			 | 
of the armed forces who died while serving on active military,  | 
| 
 
			 | 
naval, or air service. | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (3)  "Veteran" has the meaning assigned by 38 U.S.C.  | 
| 
 
			 | 
Section 101(2). | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 302.152.  PRIORITY OF SERVICE REQUIRED.  (a)  A covered  | 
| 
 
			 | 
person is entitled to priority in obtaining services or resources  | 
| 
 
			 | 
under this subchapter.  In the implementation of this section, a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
covered person may take precedence in obtaining services or  | 
| 
 
			 | 
resources under this subchapter over persons who are not covered  | 
| 
 
			 | 
persons. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), "taking precedence" may  | 
| 
 
			 | 
mean that: | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (1)  the covered person receives access to a service or  | 
| 
 
			 | 
resource before a person who is not a covered person; or | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (2)  if the service or resource is limited, the covered  | 
| 
 
			 | 
person receives access to the service or resource instead of a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
person who is not a covered person. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 302.153.  PARTICIPATION IN STATE-FUNDED PROGRAMS.  In  | 
| 
 
			 | 
selecting applicants to receive training or assistance under a job  | 
| 
 
			 | 
training or employment assistance program or service that is funded  | 
| 
 
			 | 
wholly or partly with state money, priority of service must be given  | 
| 
 
			 | 
to a covered person who meets the minimum eligibility requirements  | 
| 
 
			 | 
to participate or enroll in the program or receive the service. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 302.154.  PARTICIPATION IN TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION  | 
| 
 
			 | 
PROGRAMS.  The Texas Veterans Commission shall operate programs in  | 
| 
 
			 | 
this state to enhance the employment opportunities of veterans,  | 
| 
 
			 | 
including the employment programs funded under 38 U.S.C. Chapters  | 
| 
 
			 | 
41 and 42. The programs must exclusively enhance the employment  | 
| 
 
			 | 
opportunities of eligible veterans, and the services provided under  | 
| 
 
			 | 
those programs must be provided by state employees.  A state  | 
| 
 
			 | 
employee providing services under a program may only provide  | 
| 
 
			 | 
services to veterans. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 2.  Section 302.014, Labor Code, is repealed. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 3.  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, 2009. |