BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1814

By: Hancock

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs' interim report to the 89th Texas Legislature, there are approximately 1.5 million veterans living in Texas, and most are unaware of Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) services. The report notes, in 2022, the committee was tasked with an interim charge to study ways to connect veterans with existing business resources and available state services, and the committee's study of that interim charge led to a recommendation that the legislature explore the creation of an interagency database within TVC to collect contact information of veterans exiting military service, which would act as a casework management system through which TVC can facilitate the provision of veteran benefits. S.B. 1814 seeks to provide veterans with information regarding state and local benefits and resources by requiring TVC to establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the name and contact information of each veteran in Texas who has provided written consent to TVC and who will be separating from active duty service within 12 months of providing that consent.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Veterans Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1814 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the name and contact information of each member of the U.S. armed forces who has provided written consent to TVC to have the member's information included in the database and who will be discharged or released from active duty within 12 months of the date the member provides that consent. The bill requires the database to allow state agencies and local veteran service organizations, including veterans county service offices, that have applied to and been approved by TVC to access the database for the purpose of providing to members of the U.S. armed forces included in the database information regarding state and local benefits and resources available to veterans, including information regarding employment and training opportunities, housing, entrepreneurial and health care services, and veteran support groups.

S.B. 1814 requires TVC to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the bill, including rules establishing the procedure by which entities apply to and are approved by TVC to access the database.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.