By: Van de Putte, Davis S.B. No. 1538
      Shapleigh
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing veterans resource centers at certain
  institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS
         Sec. 434.151.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
               (2)  "Education regions" means the education regions in
  this state established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board.
               (3)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
         Sec. 434.152.  VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS. The commission
  shall administer a veterans resource center in at least one
  institution of higher education in each region specified in Section
  434.153 to:
               (1)  provide a centralized place for veterans to find
  assistance and information while enrolled at an institution of
  higher education;
               (2)  deliver innovative, cost-effective programs to
  attract veterans and family members of veterans to attend public
  institutions of higher education;
               (3)  enable institutions of higher education to create
  veteran-friendly environments;
               (4)  encourage veterans to take advantage of government
  educational programs; and
               (5)  assist veterans in applying to public institutions
  of higher education.
         Sec. 434.153.  LOCATIONS OF CENTERS.  The commission shall
  operate 15 veterans resource centers throughout the state with at
  least one veterans resource center located in each of the following
  higher education regions:
               (1)  High Plains Region;
               (2)  Northwest Texas Region;
               (3)  Metroplex Region;
               (4)  Upper East Texas Region;
               (5)  Southeast Texas Region;
               (6)  Gulf Coast Region;
               (7)  Central Texas Region;
               (8)  South Texas Region;
               (9)  West Texas Region; and
               (10)  Upper Rio Grande Region.
         Sec. 434.154.  DUTIES OF INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
  Each institution of higher education that has a veterans resource
  center shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
  commission.  The memorandum of understanding must require the
  institution of higher education to provide and bear the cost of the
  following:
               (1)  office space on the campus of the institution of
  higher education that is accessible to disabled persons and
  complies with any applicable federal and state law; and
               (2)  office equipment, telephone equipment and
  service, computer equipment, and Internet access.
         Sec. 434.155.  PROGRAM MANAGER. The commission shall employ
  a program manager to administer the veterans resource center
  program. The program manager shall:
               (1)  provide leadership, training, support, and
  overall management of the veterans resource center program;
               (2)  evaluate the effectiveness of veterans resource
  centers in identifying the services required by veterans to
  optimize the success of veterans and their families in obtaining a
  college education and in providing those services;
               (3)  supervise the regional veterans resource
  counselors;
               (4)  prepare an annual budget;
               (5)  monitor the outcomes of the veterans resource
  center program;
               (6)  using data provided by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board, produce an annual report on veterans' 
  attendance at public institutions of higher education;
               (7)  apply to private organizations and foundations for
  grant funding or other support that complements the objectives of
  the program; and
               (8)  perform any other task as required by the
  commission.
         Sec. 434.156.  REGIONAL VETERANS RESOURCE COUNSELORS.  
  (a)  The commission shall employ a regional veterans resource
  counselor for each education region to oversee the veterans
  resource center or centers located in the region.
         (b)  A regional veterans resource counselor shall maintain
  an office at a veterans resource center at an institution of higher
  education located in the region served by the veterans resource
  counselor.
         (c)  Each regional veterans resource counselor shall:
               (1)  visit the institutions of higher education located
  in the education region served by the veterans resource counselor;
               (2)  work with those institutions of higher education
  to:
                     (A)  create a hospitable and supportive
  environment for veterans;
                     (B)  enhance awareness of and encourage
  participation in veterans educational programs and commission
  programs providing other services to veterans, including
  employment and claims assistance services;
                     (C)  develop programs providing ancillary
  assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of veterans and
  their families;
                     (D)  ensure that veterans successfully complete
  their education; and
                     (E)  promote the establishment of a student
  veterans group on each campus in the region;
               (3)  work with local, state, and national veterans
  groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American
  Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits to the
  veteran population in the education region;
               (4)  work with local workforce development boards to:
                     (A)  ensure that veterans counselors are aware of
  available nontraditional educational opportunities, including
  on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships; and
                     (B)  advise employers in the region of potential
  opportunities to create on-the-job training programs for veterans;
               (5)  work with education services officers at military
  installations to encourage active duty members of the armed forces
  of the United States and veterans to use federal and state
  educational benefits;
               (6)  create and manage publicity campaigns in concert
  with the commission and institutions of higher education in the
  education region to promote the use of education benefits under the
  federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38
  U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.), the Hazlewood tuition exemption
  program for veterans and their dependents under Section 54.203,
  Education Code, and any other education benefit for veterans or
  their dependents under federal or state law;
               (7)  support programs to assist combat veteran students
  in readjusting and reintegrating into a noncombat environment;
               (8)  maintain statistical information regarding
  demographics of veterans assisted, application success, program
  completion rates, drop-out rates, and reasons for success or
  failure, as appropriate; and
               (9)  perform other activities, as assigned by the
  commission, to enhance the educational opportunities of veterans
  and their family members in the education region and throughout the
  state.
         Sec. 434.157.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.  The commission may
  adopt rules to implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act does not make an appropriation.  A
  provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
  creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
  entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
  legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
  provision.
         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.