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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training, certification, and accreditation provided or |
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regulated by 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. Subsections (d) and (e), Section 434.038, |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The commission shall develop standard course materials, |
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training curriculum, and examinations to be used for county service |
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officer certification and United States Department of Veterans |
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Affairs accreditation. [The members of the commission must approve
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the course materials, training curriculum, and examinations before
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the commission may distribute the materials and administer
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examinations.] |
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(e) The commission shall: |
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(1) maintain course materials and examinations in a |
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central location and provide county service offices and commission |
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field staff with access to the course materials on the commission's |
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Internet website; |
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(2) regularly update course materials, training |
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curriculum, and examinations after consulting with: |
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(A) the United States Department of Veterans |
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Affairs to ensure the course materials, training curriculum, and |
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examinations are accurate and meet applicable United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs requirements; and |
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(B) accredited county service officers to ensure |
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the materials, training curriculum, and examinations include |
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issues developing at the county level; [and] |
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(3) develop a training handbook containing |
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instruction and case studies addressing: |
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(A) general assistance techniques, including how |
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to provide general information regarding state and federal benefits |
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and referrals for other services and to other agencies, and general |
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information regarding state and federal benefits; |
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(B) basic counseling approaches for assisting |
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veterans, their family members, and other eligible dependents |
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filing benefit claims; |
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(C) basic information on United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs processes and procedures, including |
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how to accurately complete claims and appeals forms and how to |
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support claims; |
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(D) methods of collecting required documentation |
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and developing claims and appeals; |
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(E) methods of documenting progress and updating |
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a veteran's, a veteran's family member's, or another eligible |
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dependent's case information; |
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(F) methods of assisting veterans, their family |
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members, or other eligible dependents in pursuing appeals, |
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including offering case knowledge in appeals hearings; and |
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(G) methods of representing veterans, their |
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family members, or other eligible dependents during appeals |
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hearings; and |
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(4) coordinate with the Department of State Health |
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Services to incorporate a suicide prevention component as part of |
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the accreditation training and examination. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |