BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 651

By: West

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that because the reporting structure for veterans county service offices in certain counties is limited to direct reporting to the commissioners court, the law may not reflect all existing county administrative frameworks and that flexibility is needed to ensure operational alignment with varying county government structures. S.B. 651 seeks to address this issue by providing for the accommodation of differences in county administrative organization without diminishing oversight or accountability for veterans services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 651 amends the Government Code to include among the entities a veterans county service office maintained by the commissioners court of a county with a population of 200,000 or more is required to report directly to a designated county executive official, as an alternative to the commissioners court.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.