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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to development of a pilot program of the Texas Veterans |
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Commission to designate municipalities as Veteran and Military |
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Friendly Cities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.022. PILOT PROGRAM TO DESIGNATE VETERAN AND |
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MILITARY FRIENDLY CITIES. (a) The commission may develop a pilot |
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program to designate qualifying municipalities as Veteran and |
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Military Friendly Cities. The commission may establish the |
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criteria to qualify for a designation under the pilot program |
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developed under this section. |
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(b) The criteria established under Subsection (a) must |
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include evaluation of a municipality's ability to provide services |
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for veterans and members of the military, taking into consideration |
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the availability in the municipality of: |
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(1) a local or county veterans service office; |
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(2) suitable housing for veterans and members of the |
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military; |
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(3) financial support for veterans and members of the |
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military; |
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(4) employment resources for veterans and members of |
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the military; |
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(5) education and training programs for veterans and |
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members of the military; |
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(6) a veterans court; and |
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(7) access to health care for veterans, including |
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mental health services and mental health services peer-to-peer |
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networks. |
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(c) The commission may accept and review applications for |
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the designation and issue tiered designations, as appropriate. |
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(d) The commission may by rule establish a procedure for |
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discouraging and preventing the misappropriation of the phrase |
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"Veteran and Military Friendly City." |
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(e) The commission shall report the results of the pilot |
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program under this section to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the |
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committees in both houses of the legislature having jurisdiction |
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over veterans and military issues not later than December 31, 2014. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |