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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a service dog pilot program for |
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certain veterans. |
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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 434.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.029. SERVICE DOG PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN |
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VETERANS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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(2) "Pilot program" means the pilot program |
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established under this section. |
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(3) "Veteran" means an individual who has served in: |
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(A) an active or reserve component of the army, |
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navy, air force, coast guard, space force, or marine corps of the |
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United States; or |
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(B) the Texas National Guard, as defined by |
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Section 431.001. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall establish a pilot program |
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for veterans to assist in mitigating the symptoms of military |
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service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain |
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injury, or military sexual trauma through the provision of a |
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service dog. |
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(c) The commission shall issue a request for proposals from |
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nonprofit corporations to provide trained service dogs and training |
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and services to veterans who participate in the pilot program. |
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(d) The commission shall approve one or more nonprofit |
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corporations to provide services through the pilot program. The |
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commission may not approve a nonprofit corporation unless the |
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corporation: |
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(1) has demonstrated experience working with veterans |
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who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic |
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brain injury, or military sexual trauma; |
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(2) is authorized to conduct business in this state; |
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(3) is able to provide follow-up services to a veteran |
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who participates in the pilot program and the veteran's service |
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dog; and |
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(4) adheres to the standards of Assistance Dogs |
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International or the Association of Service Dog Providers for |
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Military Veterans. |
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(e) A nonprofit corporation that is approved to provide |
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services under the pilot program shall: |
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(1) employ professional staff to train dogs to become |
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service dogs for veterans participating in the pilot program; |
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(2) provide each veteran participating in the pilot |
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program a fully trained service dog; |
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(3) instruct each veteran participating in the pilot |
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program on maintaining the service dog's health and training; |
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(4) while a veteran is participating in the pilot |
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program, ensure that regular mental health and depression |
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assessments are conducted on the veteran; and |
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(5) be able to provide a veteran participating in the |
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pilot program a new service dog if the veteran's service dog: |
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(A) is incompatible with the veteran; or |
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(B) dies or is otherwise unable to fulfill the |
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dog's duty as a service dog before the fourth anniversary of the |
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date the veteran received the service dog under the pilot program. |
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(f) All goods and services provided to a veteran as part of |
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the pilot program, including a veteran's service dog, must be |
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provided at no cost to the veteran. |
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(g) A service dog provided by a nonprofit corporation as |
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part of the pilot program must: |
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(1) complete a training program accredited by |
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Assistance Dogs International or the Association of Service Dog |
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Providers for Military Veterans; |
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(2) comply with any requirements of the Americans with |
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Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.); and |
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(3) be evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure the dog is |
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medically fit to serve as a service dog. |
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(h) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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to fund the pilot program. |
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(i) Not later than October 1, 2026, the commission shall |
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prepare and submit a report evaluating the pilot program to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the |
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legislature. The report must include: |
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(1) recommendations for legislative or other action; |
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and |
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(2) an evaluation of the pilot program's |
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effectiveness, including a recommendation on whether the pilot |
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program should be continued, expanded, or terminated. |
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(j) The pilot program concludes and this section expires |
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September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Veterans Commission shall adopt rules |
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to administer the pilot program established under Section 434.029, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |