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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a community outreach campaign to increase awareness of |
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veterans benefits and services. |
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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 434.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.024. VETERANS COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. |
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(a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall conduct a community |
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outreach campaign to provide information relating to and increase |
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awareness of benefits and services available to veterans, |
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including: |
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(1) claims assistance services; |
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(2) technology services, including the veterans |
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website under Section 434.102; |
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(3) health, financial, rehabilitation, and housing |
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services; |
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(4) employment and reemployment services; |
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(5) legal services, including the veterans treatment |
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court program under Chapter 124; |
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(6) state and federal education benefits; |
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(7) grants available to veterans; |
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(8) entrepreneurial services under Section 434.022; |
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and |
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(9) mental health services. |
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(b) The community outreach campaign must include outreach |
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efforts at: |
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(1) community centers; |
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(2) places of worship; and |
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(3) any other place in a community where veterans |
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routinely gather, as determined by the commission. |
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(c) The commission shall collaborate with, and may contract |
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with, community-based, nonprofit, or private organizations to |
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implement the community outreach campaign under this section. |
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(d) The commission may solicit and accept gifts and grants |
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to fund the community outreach campaign under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2018, the Texas |
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Veterans Commission shall establish the veterans community |
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outreach campaign as required under Section 434.024, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, and shall adopt any rules necessary to |
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implement the campaign. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |