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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of veterans resource centers at |
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certain institutions of higher education. |
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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 E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS |
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Sec. 434.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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(2) "Education regions" means the higher education |
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regions in this state established by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 434.202. VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS. The commission |
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shall administer a veterans resource center in at least one |
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institution of higher education in each region specified in Section |
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434.203 to: |
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(1) provide a centralized place for veterans to find |
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assistance and information while enrolled at an institution of |
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higher education; |
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(2) deliver innovative, cost-effective programs to |
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attract veterans and family members of veterans to attend public |
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institutions of higher education; |
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(3) enable institutions of higher education to create |
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veteran-friendly environments; |
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(4) encourage veterans to take advantage of government |
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educational programs; and |
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(5) assist veterans in applying to public institutions |
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of higher education. |
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Sec. 434.203. LOCATIONS OF CENTERS. The commission shall |
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operate 15 veterans resource centers throughout this state with at |
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least one veterans resource center located in each of the following |
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higher education regions: |
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(1) High Plains Region; |
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(2) Northwest Texas Region; |
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(3) Metroplex Region; |
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(4) Upper East Texas Region; |
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(5) Southeast Texas Region; |
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(6) Gulf Coast Region; |
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(7) Central Texas Region; |
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(8) South Texas Region; |
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(9) West Texas Region; and |
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(10) Upper Rio Grande Region. |
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Sec. 434.204. DUTIES OF INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. |
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Each institution of higher education that has a veterans resource |
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center shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the |
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commission. The memorandum of understanding must require the |
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institution of higher education to provide and bear the cost of the |
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following: |
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(1) office space on the campus of the institution of |
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higher education that is accessible to persons with disabilities |
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and complies with any applicable federal and state law; and |
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(2) office equipment, telephone equipment and |
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service, computer equipment, and Internet access. |
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Sec. 434.205. PROGRAM MANAGER. The commission shall employ |
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a program manager to administer the veterans resource center |
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program. The program manager shall: |
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(1) provide leadership, training, support, and |
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overall management of the veterans resource center program; |
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(2) evaluate the effectiveness of veterans resource |
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centers in identifying the services required by veterans to |
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optimize the success of veterans and their families in obtaining a |
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college education and in providing those services; |
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(3) supervise the regional veterans resource |
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counselors; |
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(4) prepare an annual budget; |
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(5) monitor the outcomes of the veterans resource |
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center program; |
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(6) using data provided by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, produce an annual report on veterans' |
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attendance at public institutions of higher education; |
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(7) apply to private organizations and foundations for |
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grant funding or other support that complements the objectives of |
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the program; and |
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(8) perform any other task required by the commission. |
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Sec. 434.206. REGIONAL VETERANS RESOURCE COUNSELORS. (a) |
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The commission shall employ a regional veterans resource counselor |
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for each higher education region to oversee the veterans resource |
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center or centers located in the region. |
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(b) A regional veterans resource counselor shall maintain |
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an office at a veterans resource center at an institution of higher |
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education located in the higher education region served by the |
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veterans resource counselor. |
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(c) Each regional veterans resource counselor shall: |
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(1) visit the institutions of higher education located |
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in the higher education region served by the veterans resource |
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counselor; |
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(2) work with those institutions of higher education |
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to: |
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(A) create a hospitable and supportive |
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environment for veterans; |
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(B) enhance awareness of and encourage |
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participation in veterans educational programs and in commission |
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programs providing other services to veterans, including |
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employment and claims assistance services; |
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(C) develop programs providing ancillary |
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assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of veterans and |
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their families; |
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(D) ensure that veterans successfully complete |
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their education; and |
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(E) promote the establishment of a student |
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veterans group on each campus in the region; |
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(3) work with local, state, and national veterans |
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groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American |
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Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits to the |
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veteran population in the higher education region; |
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(4) work with local workforce development boards to: |
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(A) ensure that veterans counselors are aware of |
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available nontraditional educational opportunities, including |
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on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships; and |
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(B) advise employers in the region of potential |
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opportunities to create on-the-job training programs for veterans; |
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(5) work with education services officers at military |
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installations to encourage active duty members of the armed forces |
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of the United States and veterans to use federal and state |
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educational benefits; |
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(6) create and manage publicity campaigns in concert |
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with the commission and institutions of higher education in the |
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higher education region to promote the use of education benefits |
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under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of |
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2008 (38 U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.), the tuition exemption |
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program for veterans and their dependents under Section 54.341, |
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Education Code, and any other education benefit for veterans or |
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their dependents under federal or state law; |
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(7) support programs to assist combat veteran students |
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in readjusting and reintegrating into a noncombat environment; |
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(8) maintain statistical information regarding |
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demographics of veterans assisted, application success, program |
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completion rates, drop-out rates, and reasons for success or |
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failure, as appropriate; and |
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(9) perform other activities, as assigned by the |
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commission, to enhance the educational opportunities of veterans |
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and their family members in the higher education region and |
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throughout this state. |
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Sec. 434.207. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission may |
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adopt rules to implement this subchapter. |
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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, 2013. |