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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and operation of the Texas Women |
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Veterans Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 434.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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(2) "Executive director" means the executive director |
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of the commission. |
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(3) "Program" means the Texas Women Veterans Program. |
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(4) "Woman veteran" means a woman who: |
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(A) served on active duty in the armed forces of |
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the United States or in the Texas National Guard on federal active |
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duty under Title 10, United States Code; and |
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(B) was discharged or released from that service |
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under conditions other than dishonorable. |
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Sec. 434.152. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM; PROGRAM MISSION. |
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(a) The Texas Women Veterans Program is established in the |
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commission. The program is attached to the office of the executive |
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director for administrative purposes. |
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(b) The mission of the program is to ensure that the women |
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veterans of this state have equitable access to federal and state |
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veterans benefits and services. |
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Sec. 434.153. COORDINATOR. The executive director shall |
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designate a women veterans coordinator for this state. |
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Sec. 434.154. GENERAL PROGRAM DUTIES. The program shall: |
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(1) provide assistance to the women veterans of this |
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state as provided by this subchapter; |
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(2) perform outreach functions to improve the |
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awareness of women veterans of their eligibility for federal and |
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state veterans benefits and services; |
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(3) assess the needs of women veterans with respect to |
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benefits and services; |
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(4) review programs, research projects, and other |
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initiatives designed to address the needs of the women veterans of |
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this state; |
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(5) make recommendations to the executive director |
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regarding the improvement of benefits and services to women |
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veterans; and |
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(6) incorporate issues concerning women veterans in |
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commission planning regarding veterans benefits and services. |
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Sec. 434.155. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS. (a) The |
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program shall advocate for women veterans and work to increase |
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public awareness about the gender-specific needs of women veterans. |
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(b) The program shall recommend legislative initiatives and |
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the development of policies on the local, state, and national |
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levels to address the issues affecting women veterans. |
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Sec. 434.156. COLLABORATION. The program shall collaborate |
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with federal, state, and private agencies that provide services to |
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women veterans. |
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Sec. 434.157. RESEARCH; DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. |
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(a) The program shall monitor and research issues relating to |
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women veterans. |
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(b) The program shall disseminate information regarding |
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opportunities for women veterans throughout the network of entities |
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with which the program collaborates. |
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Sec. 434.158. EDUCATION. Through conferences, seminars, |
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and training workshops with federal, state, and private agencies, |
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the program shall provide guidance and direction to a woman veteran |
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who is applying for grants, benefits, or services. |
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Sec. 434.159. HONOR AND RECOGNITION. The program shall |
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promote events and activities that recognize and honor the women |
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veterans of this state and women who serve in the military. |
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Sec. 434.160. FACILITIES. To the extent funding is |
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available for that purpose, the program shall provide facilities as |
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appropriate in support of the program. |
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Sec. 434.161. FUNDING. On behalf of the program, the |
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executive director may accept and spend funds: |
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(1) appropriated to the commission for the operation |
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of the program; and |
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(2) received from other sources, including donations |
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and grants. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2011. |
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