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AN ACT
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relating to required training for veterans county service officers |
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and assistant veterans county service officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 434.038(a), (b), (c), and (e), |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An officer shall, within the time after the date of the |
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officer's appointment that the commission prescribes, complete a |
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course of initial training provided by the Texas Veterans |
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Commission or approved under Subsection (e)(5). The commission |
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shall issue the officer a certificate of training after completion |
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of all [the] initial training requirements established by the |
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commission under this section [course]. To maintain certification, |
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the officer shall complete continuing training [to the extent] |
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required by the commission that is approved under Subsection (e)(5) |
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or provided by the commission. An officer must maintain |
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certification to remain in office. |
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(b) The commission may [shall] provide, at commission |
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expense, the initial and continuing training required by this |
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section at least once each year. If state funds are appropriated |
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for that purpose, the commission shall reimburse an officer's |
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travel and lodging expenses incurred in attending training provided |
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by the commission. The commission shall make the reimbursement in |
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the manner prescribed for the reimbursement of these expenses to |
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state employees. |
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(c) The commissioners court of an officer's county shall |
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reimburse an officer's travel and lodging expenses incurred in |
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attending [commission] training required under this section that is |
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approved under Subsection (e)(5) [unless state funds are
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appropriated for that purpose. If state funds are appropriated,
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the commission shall make the reimbursement in the manner
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prescribed for the reimbursement of these expenses to state
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employees]. |
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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; |
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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; and |
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(5) approve training provided by public or private |
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entities to fulfill initial and continuing training requirements |
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established by the commission under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 544 passed the Senate on |
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April 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 544 passed the House on |
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May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |