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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to pro bono legal services for veterans and service |
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members. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 434.017(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas |
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Veterans Commission. Money appropriated under this subsection |
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shall be used to: |
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(1) make grants to address veterans' needs; |
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(2) make grants to provide pro bono legal services to |
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veterans, active duty members of the United States armed forces, |
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and members of the state military forces; |
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(3) administer the fund; and |
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(4) [(3)] analyze and investigate data received from |
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the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) |
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that is administered by the Administration for Children and |
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Families of the United States Department of Health and Human |
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Services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 434.0171, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.0171. STATE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUND FOR |
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VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. For purposes of Subchapter I, Chapter 659: |
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(1) the Texas Veterans Commission, for the sole |
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purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is |
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considered an eligible charitable organization entitled to |
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participate in the state employee charitable campaign; and |
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(2) a state employee is entitled to authorize a |
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deduction for contributions to the Texas Veterans Commission for |
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the purposes of managing the fund for veterans' assistance as a |
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charitable contribution under Section 659.132, and the Texas |
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Veterans Commission may use the contributions for the purposes |
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listed in Section 434.017(c)[, as redesignated and amended by
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Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
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Session, 2007]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 434.154(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The council may, by majority vote, establish the |
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following coordinating workgroups to focus on specific issues |
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affecting veterans, servicemembers, and their families: |
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(1) health; |
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(2) mental health; |
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(3) employment; |
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(4) higher education; |
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(5) criminal justice; |
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(6) housing; |
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(7) transportation; |
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(8) women veterans; |
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(9) pro bono legal services for veterans, including |
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opportunities and obstacles for providing those services; and |
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(10) [(9)] any other coordinating workgroup |
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considered necessary. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |