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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating an identification card for veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.019. MILITARY VETERAN IDENTIFICATION CARDS. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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(2) "Veteran" means a person who: |
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(A) has served in: |
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(i) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, |
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or marine corps of the United States; or |
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(ii) the state military forces as defined |
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by Section 431.001; and |
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(B) has been honorably discharged from the branch |
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of the service in which the person served. |
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(b) The commission shall issue an identification card to |
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each veteran in the state who: |
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(1) applies for an identification card; and |
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(2) provides proof of the person's military service as |
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described by Subsection (a)(2), including proof of the veteran's |
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honorable discharge. |
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(c) The identification card must include: |
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(1) the full name of the veteran; |
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(2) a photograph of the veteran consistent with the |
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veteran's appearance; |
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(3) the branch of the armed forces in which the veteran |
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served; |
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(4) the signature of the executive director of the |
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Texas Veterans Commission; |
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(5) a brief description of the veteran, including the |
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veteran's height, weight, and eye color; |
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(6) the thumbprint of the veteran or a bar code with a |
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unique identification label for the veteran; |
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(7) the date the card was issued to the veteran; and |
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(8) a phone number operational 24 hours a day, seven |
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days a week that a person may call to verify the validity of the |
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identification card. |
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(d) On the identification card, the commission shall print: |
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(1) "State of Texas" and the state seal; and |
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(2) "This identification card certifies that (insert |
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name of veteran) is an honorably discharged veteran who served in |
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the armed forces." |
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(e) An identification card issued under this section |
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expires on a date specified by the commission. |
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(f) An identification card issued under this section must |
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be, to the extent practicable, tamper-proof. |
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(g) If an identification card issued under this section is |
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lost or stolen, the commission may: |
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(1) require a veteran to submit an affidavit executed |
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by the veteran that the identification card was lost or stolen; and |
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(2) issue a duplicate identification card to the |
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veteran. |
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(h) The commission may adopt rules to administer this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |