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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to resources available to the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 434.017, Government Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 840 (S.B. 1940) and 1385 (S.B. 1655), Acts of the 81st |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.017. FUND FOR VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. (a) The fund |
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for veterans' assistance is a special fund in the state treasury |
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outside the general revenue fund. The fund is divided into two |
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accounts, the federal money account and the state money account. |
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(a-1) The federal money account is composed of: |
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(1) federal money transferred to the fund at the |
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direction of the legislature; and |
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(2) the earnings of the account. |
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(a-2) The state money account is composed of: |
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(1) state money transferred to the fund at the |
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direction of the legislature; |
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(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund; |
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(3) the earnings of the account [fund]; [and] |
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(4) money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the |
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lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to the |
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fund under Section 466.408(b); and |
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(5) [(2)] money deposited to the credit of the fund |
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under Section 502.1746, Transportation Code. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c), (c-1), and (e), |
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money in the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose. |
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(c) Money in the federal money account of the fund may be |
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appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission only for purposes |
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authorized by federal law. |
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(c-1) Money in the state money account of the fund may be |
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appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission only to: |
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(1) enhance or improve veterans' assistance programs, |
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including veterans' representation and counseling; |
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(2) make grants to address veterans' needs, including |
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expenses for entertainment, housing, travel, and food; and |
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(3) administer the fund. |
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(d) The Texas Veterans Commission may adopt rules governing |
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the award of grants by the commission under this section. |
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(e) The commission may solicit, accept, or refuse a gift or |
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grant of money, services, or property for any purpose related to the |
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state money account of the fund for veterans' assistance. A gift or |
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grant to the fund may be appropriated in the same manner as other |
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money in the fund, subject to the purposes provided by Subsection |
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(c-1) and any limitation or requirement placed on the gift or grant |
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by the donor or granting entity. |
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(f) Sections 403.095 and 404.071 do not apply to the fund. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Veterans Commission shall perform an |
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accounting of the unobligated and unexpended balance in the fund |
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for veterans' assistance at the end of the state fiscal year ending |
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August 31, 2011, to determine the portion of the balance that is |
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federal money and the portion of the balance that is state money. |
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The commission shall deposit the unobligated and unexpended balance |
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of the fund that is federal money into the federal money account of |
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the fund established under Section 434.017(a), Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act, and deposit the unobligated and unexpended |
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balance of the fund that is state money into the state money account |
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of the fund established under Section 434.017(a), Government Code, |
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as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |