BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 805
85R8139 AAF-D	By: Lucio
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	4/5/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of Texas has the highest women veteran population in the nation with a total 183,597 women veterans. Additionally, in the 2016 Interim Report to the Texas Legislature, the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations (VAMI) reported that the number of women veterans in the state continues to increase.

Concerned stakeholders believe that the state's effort to assist women veterans through the Texas Women Veteran Program could be strengthened to provide additional services and information to this unique population.

S.B. 805 addresses this concern by providing that the women veterans coordinator serve as a liaison between state and federal agencies and organizations that provide benefits and services to women veterans. Additionally, the bill provides for the establishment of a clearinghouse relating to services and resources for women veterans.

As proposed, S.B. 805 amends current law relating to the duties of the Texas Women Veterans Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 434.203, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 434.203. COORDINATOR. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.

(b) Requires the women veterans coordinator or the coordinator's designee to serve as a liaison between state and federal agencies and organizations that provide benefits and services to women veterans.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 434.204, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 434.204. GENERAL PROGRAM DUTIES. Includes establishing a clearinghouse of information relating to services and resources for women veterans as a required duty of the program. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.