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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of information regarding health care and |
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other benefits for veterans and their family members. |
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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. INFORMATION ABOUT VETERANS BENEFITS. The |
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Texas Veterans Commission shall, to the extent possible: |
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(1) attend each transition assistance program |
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conducted by the United States Department of Defense in the state; |
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and |
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(2) at each transition assistance program: |
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(A) distribute the application for health |
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benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and |
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(B) answer questions regarding health care and |
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other benefits available to veterans of the United States armed |
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forces. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 531.093, Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.093. SERVICES FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND FAMILY OF |
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SERVICEMEMBERS [MILITARY PERSONNEL]. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 531.093, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall ensure that each |
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health and human services agency adopts policies and procedures |
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that require the agency to: |
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(1) identify the following individuals |
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[servicemembers] who are seeking services from the agency during |
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the agency's intake and eligibility determination process: |
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(A) servicemembers; |
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(B) spouses of servicemembers; |
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(C) spouses of deceased servicemembers; and |
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(D) dependents of deceased servicemembers; and |
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(2) direct the individuals identified under |
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Subdivision (1) [servicemembers seeking services] to appropriate |
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service providers, including the United States Veterans Health |
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Administration, National Guard Bureau facilities, and other |
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federal, state, and local service providers. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter U, Chapter 161, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 161.553 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.553. VETERANS HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. (a) The |
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department and commission shall ensure that each individual who |
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calls the Texas Information and Referral Network is informed that |
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individuals who are servicemembers, spouses of servicemembers, |
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spouses of deceased servicemembers, or dependents of deceased |
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servicemembers may be entitled to medical and other benefits from |
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the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the National |
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Guard Bureau, and other federal, state, and local service |
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providers. |
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(b) The Texas Information and Referral Network shall |
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provide the name and contact information of each entity that |
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provides benefits to which an individual described by Subsection |
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(a) may be entitled. |
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(c) The Texas Veterans Commission shall cooperate with the |
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department and commission in preparing and maintaining the |
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information relating to referrals that is provided through the |
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Texas Information and Referral Network, as provided by this |
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section. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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