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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and operation of veterans cemeteries. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 164.005, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (f) and (h) and adding Subsection |
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(i) to read as follows: |
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(f) The board, the chairman of the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, and two representatives of the veterans community |
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selected by the chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission shall: |
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(1) establish the guidelines for determining: |
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(A) the location and size of veterans cemeteries; |
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and |
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(B) the eligibility for burial in a veterans |
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cemetery; and |
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(2) select up to seven locations across the state for |
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veterans cemeteries one of which must be in a county that is |
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contiguous to an international border and the Gulf of Mexico. |
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(h) Of the funds available in the veterans' land fund, the |
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veterans' housing assistance fund, and the veterans' housing |
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assistance fund II that may be used for veterans cemeteries, the |
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board may spend not more than $10[7] million each fiscal year to |
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plan and design, operate, maintain, enlarge, or improve veterans |
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cemeteries. The board may not use funds from the veterans' land |
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fund, the veterans' housing assistance fund, or the veterans' |
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housing assistance fund II to acquire land to be used for a veterans |
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cemetery. |
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(i) In addition to using funds described by Subsection (h), |
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the board may plan and design, operate, maintain, enlarge, or |
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improve veterans cemeteries using funds available or appropriated |
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to the board for that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |