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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain unclaimed property of veterans and veterans' |
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families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.007. DUTIES. The commission shall: |
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(1) compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to |
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benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families |
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and dependents; |
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(2) collect information relating to services and |
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facilities available to veterans; |
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(3) cooperate with veterans service agencies in the |
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state; |
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(4) inform members and veterans of the armed forces, |
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their families and dependents, and military and civilian |
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authorities about the existence or availability of: |
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(A) educational training and retraining |
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facilities; |
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(B) health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing |
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services and facilities; |
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(C) employment and reemployment services; |
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(D) provisions of federal, state, and local law |
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affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans |
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of the armed forces and their families and dependents; and |
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(E) other similar, related, or appropriate |
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matters; |
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(5) assist veterans and their families and dependents |
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in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges, |
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rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local |
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law; |
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(6) cooperate with all government and private agencies |
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securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and |
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dependents; |
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(7) investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or |
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exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and |
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recommend necessary legislation for full correction; |
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(8) coordinate the services and activities of state |
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departments and divisions having services and resources affecting |
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veterans or their families or dependents; |
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(9) provide training and certification of veterans |
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county service officers and assistant veterans county service |
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officers in accordance with Section 434.038; [and] |
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(10) through surveys or other reasonable and accurate |
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methods of estimation, collect and maintain for each county in the |
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state the number of servicemembers and veterans residing in the |
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county and annually update and publish the information on the |
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commission's website; and |
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(11) with the assistance and cooperation of the |
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comptroller, inform and assist veterans and their families and |
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dependents with respect to discovering and initiating claims for |
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unclaimed property held by the United States Department of Veterans |
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Affairs. |
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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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