Texas Government Code Title 4, Chapter 434 - Veteran Assistance Agencies

SUBCHAPTER A TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION

• Texas Section 434.001 - Commission
  The Texas Veterans Commission is an agency of the state. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
• Texas Section 434.002 - Application Of Sunset, Open Meetings, And Administrative Procedure Laws
  (a) The Texas Veterans Commission is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is...
• Texas Section 434.003 - Members
  (a) The commission is composed of five members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall make each...
• Texas Section 434.004 - Conflict Of Interest
  (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to...
• Texas Section 434.005 - Removal
  (a) It is a ground for removal from the commission if a member: (1) does not have at the time of taking office, or does...
• Texas Section 434.006 - Officers; Commission Actions
  (a) The governor shall designate a member of the commission as the presiding officer of the commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure...
• Texas Section 434.0061 - Training
  (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the commission may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as...
• Texas Section 434.007 - Duties
  The commission shall: (1) compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families and dependents; (2)...
• Texas Section 434.0071 - Memorandum Of Understanding
  The commission shall adopt a joint memorandum of understanding with the following governmental entities to coordinate the provision of services to state military veterans: (1)...
• Texas Section 434.0072 - "Taps" Tuition Voucher Program
  (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code....
• Texas Section 434.0076 - Record Of Complaints
  (a) The commission shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the commission. The commission shall maintain information about parties...
• Texas Section 434.0077 - Negotiated Rulemaking And Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures
  (a) The commission shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of: (1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 for the adoption of...
• Texas Section 434.0078 - Claims Assistance Services
  (a) The commission shall adopt procedures for administering claims assistance services under Section 434.007(5). The procedures shall include: (1) criteria for determining when a veteran's...
• Texas Section 434.0079 - Duties Regarding Certain Tuition And Fee Exemptions For Veterans And Family Members
  (a) The commission, through its veteran education program, shall assist veterans and their family members in claiming and qualifying for exemptions from the payment of...
• Texas Section 434.00791 - Electronic System To Monitor Tuition Exemptions For Veterans And Family Members
  (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. (b) The commission shall ensure a system to...
• Texas Section 434.008 - Fees Prohibited
  The commission may not charge a fee or permit the payment of a fee by an applicant to a third person for services rendered by...
• Texas Section 434.009 - Executive Director
  (a) The commission shall employ an executive director qualified by experience and training to administer the policies of the commission. (b) The executive director shall:...
• Texas Section 434.0091 - Separation Of Policymaking And Management Responsibilities
  The commission shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policymaking responsibilities of the commission and the management responsibilities of the executive director and...
• Texas Section 434.010 - Rules
  (a) The commission may adopt rules that it considers necessary for its administration. (b) The commission shall adopt procedures for receiving input and recommendations from...
• Texas Section 434.0101 - Advisory Committees
  (a) In developing procedures under Section 434.010, the commission may establish and appoint members to an advisory committee to advise and make recommendations to the...
• Texas Section 434.011 - Office; Expenses; Employees
  (a) The state shall provide the commission suitable offices and office equipment in Austin. The commission may incur the expenses necessary to perform its work....
• Texas Section 434.012 - Compensation And Expenses
  (a) A member of the commission is entitled to a per diem as set by legislative appropriation for each day that the member engages in...
• Texas Section 434.013 - Finances
  (a) The financial transactions of the commission are subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code. (b) Repealed by...
• Texas Section 434.014 - Employment Practices
  (a) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall develop a career ladder program. The program must require that openings in all positions except...
• Texas Section 434.015 - Information Of Public Interest
  The commission shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the commission and the procedures for filing and for resolution by the commission...
• Texas Section 434.0151 - Public Participation
  The commission shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the commission and to speak on any...
• Texas Section 434.016 - Gifts And Grants
  The commission may accept gifts of money and property and may accept grants. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 395 (S.B. 1480), Sec. 3,...
• Texas Section 434.0161 - Use Of Funds To Support Outreach And Training
  The commission may use appropriated funds to purchase, for use at outreach and training functions: (1) promotional items that include the agency's name and contact...
• Texas Section 434.017 - Fund For Veterans' Assistance
  Sec. 434.017. FUND FOR VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. (a) The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund....
• Texas Section 434.0171 - State Employee Contributions To Fund For Veterans' Assistance
  For purposes of Subchapter I, Chapter 659: (1) the Texas Veterans Commission, for the sole purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is considered...
• Texas Section 434.018 - Performance Incentive Award
  (a) The commission may make a performance incentive award to an individual or an entity for providing services to veterans as authorized by Section 3(a)...
• Texas Section 434.019 - Veterans Hospital
  (a) The Texas Veterans Commission and the Department of State Health Services, in collaboration with the office of the governor, shall work with the United...
• Texas Section 434.020 - Notice To State Cemetery Committee Of Servicemember's Death
  The Texas Veterans Commission shall notify the State Cemetery Committee as soon as practicable after the commission receives notice of the death of a member...
• Texas Section 434.021 - Confidential Information Received By The Commission
  Information received by the commission that is confidential under Chapter 552 remains confidential regardless of the format in which the commission maintains the information. Added...
• Texas Section 434.022 - Veteran Entrepreneur Program
  (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in: (1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the...

SUBCHAPTER B VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICES

• Texas Section 434.023 - Health Care Advocacy Program For Veterans
  (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in: (1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the...
• Texas Section 434.031 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Office" means a Veterans County Service Office created under this subchapter. (2) "Officer" means a veterans county service officer or assistant...
• Texas Section 434.032 - Creation
  (a) In a county with a population of 200,000 or more, the commissioners court shall maintain a veterans county service office. The office must be:...
• Texas Section 434.033 - Officers
  (a) A commissioners court that maintains and operates an office shall appoint a veterans county service officer and the number of assistant veterans county service...
• Texas Section 434.034 - Joint Employment
  The commissioners courts of any number of contiguous counties, by a majority vote of the full membership of each commissioners court, may agree to jointly...
• Texas Section 434.035 - Duties
  An officer shall aid any county resident who served in the armed forces or nurses corps of the United States, and any orphan or dependent...
• Texas Section 434.036 - Prohibitions
  (a) An officer may not charge a fee or permit the payment of a fee by an applicant to a third person for services the...
• Texas Section 434.037 - Access To Records
  A state eleemosynary or penal institution shall give an officer access to its records to enable the officer to determine the status of a person...
• Texas Section 434.038 - Training And Certification
  (a) An officer shall, within the time after the date of the officer's appointment that the commission prescribes, complete a course of initial training provided...

SUBCHAPTER C TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS

• Texas Section 434.039 - Coordination With County Service Officers And Commissioners Courts
  The commission shall develop and adopt procedures to coordinate with county service officers and county commissioners courts to: (1) identify the shared objectives of the...
• Texas Section 434.101 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "State electronic Internet portal" has the meaning assigned by Section 2054.003. Added by Acts...
• Texas Section 434.102 - Veterans Website
  (a) The Department of Information Resources shall establish and maintain on the state electronic Internet portal a veterans website. The website must allow veterans to...
• Texas Section 434.103 - Commission Forms
  Commission forms shall contain: (1) the veterans website address maintained under Section 434.102; and (2) the commission's toll-free telephone number. Added by Acts 2003, 78th...
• Texas Section 434.104 - Benefits Booklets
  (a) Not later than February 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall create an electronic version of a state veterans benefits booklet and provide...
• Texas Section 434.105 - Electronic Access To Newsletter Or Services
  The commission, with the assistance of the executive director of the Department of Information Resources, may develop and implement a program that uses appropriate computer...
• Texas Section 434.106 - Donations; Computers For Veterans County Service Officers
  (a) The commission may accept donated computers from any person, including a governmental entity, and cooperate with that person to establish a program to provide...
• Texas Section 434.107 - Use Of Technology
  The commission shall implement a policy requiring the commission to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the commission's ability to perform its functions. The policy...

SUBCHAPTER D TEXAS COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR VETERANS SERVICES

• Texas Section 434.108 - Directory Of Services
  (a) The commission shall collaborate with and assist the Department of State Health Services and the Health and Human Services Commission in compiling and maintaining...
• Texas Section 434.151 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Council" means the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services. (2) "Servicemember" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.551, Health and Safety...
• Texas Section 434.152 - Texas Coordinating Council For Veterans Services
  The Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services is established to: (1) coordinate the activities of state agencies that assist veterans, servicemembers, and their families; (2)...
• Texas Section 434.153 - Composition Of Council
  The council is composed of the director or executive head of the following entities, or that person's designated representative: (1) the Texas Veterans Commission; (2)...
• Texas Section 434.154 - Coordinating Workgroups
  (a) The council may, by majority vote, establish the following coordinating workgroups to focus on specific issues affecting veterans, servicemembers, and their families: (1) health;...
• Texas Section 434.155 - Presiding Officer
  The executive director of the Texas Veterans Commission shall serve as the presiding officer. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1112 (S.B. 1796),...
• Texas Section 434.156 - Meetings
  The council shall meet at least annually and at the call of the presiding officer. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1112 (S.B....
• Texas Section 434.157 - Administrative Support
  (a) The council is administratively attached to the Texas Veterans Commission. The Texas Veterans Commission may provide administrative support and resources to the council as...

SUBCHAPTER E TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM

• Texas Section 434.158 - Report By Council
  Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the council shall submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of...
• Texas Section 434.201 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "Executive director" means the executive director of the commission. (3) "Program" means the Texas...
• Texas Section 434.202 - Establishment Of Program; Program Mission
  (a) The Texas Women Veterans Program is established in the commission. The program is attached to the office of the executive director for administrative purposes....
• Texas Section 434.203 - Coordinator
  The executive director shall designate a women veterans coordinator for this state. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 325 (H.B. 867), Sec. 1,...
• Texas Section 434.204 - General Program Duties
  The program shall: (1) provide assistance to the women veterans of this state as provided by this subchapter; (2) perform outreach functions to improve the...
• Texas Section 434.205 - Advocacy And Public Awareness
  (a) The program shall advocate for women veterans and work to increase public awareness about the gender-specific needs of women veterans. (b) The program shall...
• Texas Section 434.206 - Collaboration
  The program shall collaborate with federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies that provide services to women veterans. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S.,...
• Texas Section 434.207 - Research; Dissemination Of Information
  (a) The program shall monitor and research issues relating to women veterans. (b) The program shall disseminate information regarding opportunities for women veterans throughout the...
• Texas Section 434.208 - Education
  Through conferences, seminars, and training workshops with federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies, the program shall provide guidance and direction to a woman veteran...
• Texas Section 434.209 - Honor And Recognition
  The program shall promote events and activities that recognize and honor the women veterans of this state and women who serve in the military. Added...
• Texas Section 434.210 - Facilities
  To the extent funding is available for that purpose, the program shall provide facilities as appropriate in support of the program. Added by Acts 2015,...

SUBCHAPTER F VETERAN EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD NETWORK

• Texas Section 434.211 - Funding; Grants
  On behalf of the program, the commission may: (1) accept and spend funds: (A) appropriated to the commission for the operation of the program; and...
• Texas Section 434.251 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. Added...
• Texas Section 434.252 - Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award Network
  (a) The commission by rule shall establish an award program under which institutions of higher education may receive recognition from the commission for excellence in...

SUBCHAPTER G VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS PROGRAM

• Texas Section 434.253 - Rulemaking Authority
  The commission may adopt rules as necessary to administer this subchapter. In developing rules under this section, the commission shall consult with the Texas Higher...
• Texas Section 434.301 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. Added...
• Texas Section 434.302 - Veterans Education Counselors
  The commission shall employ veterans education counselors. The veterans education counselors shall: (1) work with institutions of higher education and any existing veterans programs at...
• Texas Section 434.303 - Support From Institutions Of Higher Education
  Each institution of higher education shall cooperate with the commission to provide information, as permitted by law, related to student veterans at the institution, provide...

SUBCHAPTER H STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR VETERANS

• Texas Section 434.304 - Rulemaking Authority
  The commission may adopt rules to implement this subchapter. In developing rules under this section, the commission shall consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating...
• Texas Section 434.351 - Definitions
  In this subchapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "Peer" means a person who is a veteran or a veteran's family member. (3)...
• Texas Section 434.352 - Duties
  (a) The commission and the Department of State Health Services shall coordinate to administer the mental health program for veterans developed under Chapter 1001, Health...

SUBCHAPTER I COMMUNITY COLLABORATION INITIATIVE

• Texas Section 434.353 - Training And Certification
  (a) The commission shall develop and implement methods for providing volunteer coordinator certification training to volunteer coordinators, including providing training for initial certification and recertification...
• Texas Section 434.401 - Community Collaboration
  (a) The commission and the Department of State Health Services shall include as a part of the mental health program for veterans described by Section...

Last modified: September 28, 2016