By: West, Hinojosa S.B. No. 1476
      Rodriguez
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the veteran entrepreneur program by the
  Texas Veterans Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 434.022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 434.022.  VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. (a)  In this
  section, "veteran" means a person who has served in:
               (1)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine
  corps of the United States; or
               (2)  the Texas National Guard as defined by Section
  431.001.
         (b)  The Texas Veterans Commission by rule shall establish
  and implement the veteran entrepreneur program to foster and
  promote veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership.
         (c)  The program shall provide assistance to veteran
  entrepreneurs and business owners by:
               (1)  performing outreach functions to improve veteran
  entrepreneurs' and business owners' awareness of federal and state
  benefits and services available to those veterans;
               (2)  assessing the need for benefits and services among
  veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
               (3)  reviewing and researching programs, projects, and
  initiatives designed to address the needs of veteran entrepreneurs
  and business owners;
               (4)  periodically evaluating the effectiveness of the
  commission's efforts to assist veteran entrepreneurs and business
  owners and making appropriate recommendations to the executive
  director of the commission to improve services and assistance
  provided to those veterans;
               (5)  incorporating issues concerning veteran
  entrepreneurs and business owners into the commission's plans for
  assisting veterans in securing benefits and services;
               (6)  advocating for veteran entrepreneurs and working
  to increase public awareness about the needs of veteran
  entrepreneurs and business owners;
               (7)  recommending legislative initiatives and policies
  at the local, state, and national levels to address the issues
  affecting veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership;
               (8)  collaborating with federal, state, and private
  agencies that provide services to veteran entrepreneurs and
  business owners to allow the veterans to make use of those services;
               (9)  monitoring and researching issues affecting the
  interests of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
               (10)  providing information about opportunities for
  veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's
  collaborative network of businesses and organizations;
               (11)  providing guidance to veteran entrepreneurs and
  business owners through conferences, seminars, and training
  workshops with federal, state, and private agencies; and
               (12)  promoting events and activities that recognize or
  honor veteran entrepreneurs and business owners.
         (d)  The executive director of the commission shall appoint a
  program coordinator to administer the program.
         (e)  The commission shall provide facilities as appropriate
  in support of the program to the extent funding is available for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Veterans
  Commission shall adopt rules establishing the veteran entrepreneur
  program required by Section 434.022, Government Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2013.