S.B. No. 1660
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain unclaimed property of veterans and veterans'
  families.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 434.007.  DUTIES. The commission shall:
               (1)  compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to
  benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families
  and dependents;
               (2)  collect information relating to services and
  facilities available to veterans;
               (3)  cooperate with veterans service agencies in the
  state;
               (4)  inform members and veterans of the armed forces,
  their families and dependents, and military and civilian
  authorities about the existence or availability of:
                     (A)  educational training and retraining
  facilities;
                     (B)  health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing
  services and facilities;
                     (C)  employment and reemployment services;
                     (D)  provisions of federal, state, and local law
  affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans
  of the armed forces and their families and dependents; and
                     (E)  other similar, related, or appropriate
  matters;
               (5)  assist veterans and their families and dependents
  in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges,
  rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local
  law;
               (6)  cooperate with all government and private agencies
  securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and
  dependents;
               (7)  investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or
  exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and
  recommend necessary legislation for full correction;
               (8)  coordinate the services and activities of state
  departments and divisions having services and resources affecting
  veterans or their families or dependents;
               (9)  provide training and certification of veterans
  county service officers and assistant veterans county service
  officers in accordance with Section 434.038; [and]
               (10)  through surveys or other reasonable and accurate
  methods of estimation, collect and maintain for each county in the
  state the number of servicemembers and veterans residing in the
  county and annually update and publish the information on the
  commission's website; and
               (11)  with the assistance and cooperation of the
  comptroller, inform and assist veterans and their families and
  dependents with respect to discovering and initiating claims for
  unclaimed property held by the United States Department of Veterans
  Affairs.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1660 passed the Senate on
  April 21, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1660 passed the House on
  May 20, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 149, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor