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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Veterans Commission regarding the |
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provision of veterans benefits in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this Act, "commission" means the Texas |
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Veterans Commission. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study to determine: |
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(1) the number of veterans in this state who are |
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entitled under state or federal law to receive veterans benefits |
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managed, provided, or facilitated by the commission; |
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(2) the location of the veterans described by |
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Subdivision (1) of this subsection disaggregated by county; |
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(3) the number of claims benefit advisors employed by |
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the commission; |
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(4) the number of claims benefit advisors necessary |
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for the commission to employ and the geographic locations at which |
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the advisors should perform their duties in order to provide |
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services to veterans in the most efficient manner considering: |
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(A) the geographic areas currently served by |
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veterans county service officers; and |
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(B) the option of allowing multiple counties to |
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be served at the same location in a way that minimizes drive times |
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and distances traveled by veterans to receive services; and |
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(5) the costs to implement the service delivery system |
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described by Subdivision (4) of this subsection, including the |
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estimated costs of hiring, training, and equipping claims benefit |
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advisors and of offices and office operations and support staff. |
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(c) In determining the costs under Subsection (b)(5) of this |
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section, the commission may consider collocating claims benefit |
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advisors with facilities, institutions, and organizations that are |
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currently providing services to veterans. |
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(d) Not later than June 1, 2026, the commission shall submit |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and each member of the legislature a report on |
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the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or |
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other action. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |