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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the veteran entrepreneur program by the |
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Texas Veterans Commission. |
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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. VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "veteran" means a person who has served in: |
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(1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine |
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corps of the United States; or |
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(2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section |
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431.001. |
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(b) The Texas Veterans Commission by rule shall establish |
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and implement the veteran entrepreneur program to foster and |
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promote veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership. |
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(c) The program shall provide assistance to veteran |
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entrepreneurs and business owners by: |
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(1) performing outreach functions to improve veteran |
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entrepreneurs' and business owners' awareness of federal and state |
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benefits and services available to those veterans; |
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(2) assessing the need for benefits and services among |
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veteran entrepreneurs and business owners; |
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(3) reviewing and researching programs, projects, and |
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initiatives designed to address the needs of veteran entrepreneurs |
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and business owners; |
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(4) periodically evaluating the effectiveness of the |
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commission's efforts to assist veteran entrepreneurs and business |
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owners and making appropriate recommendations to the executive |
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director of the commission to improve services and assistance |
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provided to those veterans; |
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(5) incorporating issues concerning veteran |
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entrepreneurs and business owners into the commission's plans for |
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assisting veterans in securing benefits and services; |
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(6) advocating for veteran entrepreneurs and working |
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to increase public awareness about the needs of veteran |
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entrepreneurs and business owners; |
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(7) recommending legislative initiatives and policies |
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at the local, state, and national levels to address the issues |
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affecting veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership; |
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(8) collaborating with federal, state, and private |
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agencies that provide services to veteran entrepreneurs and |
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business owners to allow the veterans to make use of those services; |
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(9) monitoring and researching issues affecting the |
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interests of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners; |
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(10) providing information about opportunities for |
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veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's |
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collaborative network of businesses and organizations; |
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(11) providing guidance to veteran entrepreneurs and |
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business owners through conferences, seminars, and training |
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workshops with federal, state, and private agencies; and |
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(12) promoting events and activities that recognize or |
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honor veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. |
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(d) The executive director of the commission shall appoint a |
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program coordinator to administer the program. |
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(e) The commission shall provide facilities as appropriate |
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in support of the program to the extent funding is available for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Veterans |
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Commission shall adopt rules establishing the veteran entrepreneur |
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program required by Section 434.022, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |