Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 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) the Texas Workforce Commission; (2) the Veterans' Land Board…

Sec. 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 to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the…

Sec. 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 commission rules; and (2) appropriate a…

Sec. 434.0078. CLAIMS ASSISTANCE SERVICES. (a) The commission shall adopt procedures for administering claims assistance services under Section 434.007(a)(5). The procedures must include: (1) criteria for determining when a veteran's initial claim is substantially complete and ba…

Sec. 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 tuition and …

Sec. 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 electronically monitor t…

Sec. 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 the commission. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 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: (1) place into operation the policies and instructions of the commission; (…

Sec. 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 the staff of …

Sec. 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 interested persons regarding the development of rules and policies. Acts 1987, 70th L…

Sec. 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 commission on programs, rules, and policies affecting the delivery of servic…

Sec. 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. (b) The commission shall employ sufficient office personnel, stenographers, …

Sec. 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 commission business. (b) A member is entitled to receive compensation for meals, lodging, or other travel …

Sec. 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 Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 25(38), eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147…

Sec. 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 entry level positions be posted within the commission concurrently with any pu…

Sec. 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 of public complaints. The commission shall make the information …

Sec. 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 issue under the jurisdiction of the commission. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., …

Sec. 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, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 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 information to be distributed to veterans; and (2) foo…

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. The fund is composed of: (1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of the legislature; (2) gifts and grants contri…

Sec. 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 an eligible charitable organization entitl…

Sec. 434.018. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE AWARD. (a) The commission may make a monetary performance incentive award to an individual or an entity for providing services to veterans as authorized by Section 3(a) of the federal Jobs for Veterans Act (38 U.S.C. Section 4112). (b) A perfor…

Sec. 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 States Department of Veterans Affairs and any other appropriate federal agency to propose t…

Sec. 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 of the United States armed forces from the state…

Sec. 434.0205. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO COMMISSION. Any information provided by a person to the commission to receive services or participate in commission programs is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R…

Sec. 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 by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., C…

Sec. 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 United States; or (2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section 431.001. (b) The Texas Veterans Com…

Sec. 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 United States; or (2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section 431.001. (b) The commi…

Sec. 434.024. VETERANS COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. (a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall conduct a community outreach campaign to provide information relating to and increase awareness of benefits and services available to veterans, including: (1) claims assistance services; (…

Sec. 434.0241. VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN. (a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall conduct a suicide prevention campaign to provide veterans with information regarding suicide prevention. (b) In conducting the suicide prevention campaign, the commission shall establish …

Sec. 434.025. INFORMATION REGARDING VETERAN'S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE POLICIES. The commission shall make available on its website a list of each private employer who has provided notice under Section 23.002(c), Labor Code, regarding a veteran's employment preference policy. Added …

Sec. 434.026. ONLINE REPOSITORY FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. (a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall develop and maintain on the state electronic Internet portal project described by Section 2054.252 an online repository of information of use to active duty members of the United Sta…

Sec. 434.0261. ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SERVICE MEMBERS LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY. (a) The commission shall establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the name and contact information of each member of the United States armed forces who: (1) has p…

Sec. 434.027. ENERGY INDUSTRY PROGRAM FOR VETERAN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. (a) The Texas Veterans Commission shall develop and administer a program to provide assistance to veterans seeking a certification or training to prepare for employment in the energy industry. (b) The com…

Sec. 434.028. CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS. On request of a veteran, the Texas Veterans Commission shall evaluate the veteran's citizenship status in order to: (1) educate and direct the veteran in becoming a United States citizen; and (2) facilitate the veteran's naturali…

Sec. 434.029. SERVICE DOG PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. (a) In this section: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. (2) "Pilot program" means the pilot program established under this section. (3) "Veteran" means an individual who has served in: (A) an active …

Sec. 434.0295. CERTAIN VETERANS QUALIFIED FOR BENEFITS. (a) In this section, "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus disease. (b) For purposes of determining qualifications for any veterans benefits or services from the state, a former member of the United States armed forces…

Sec. 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 veterans county service officer. (3) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commissi…

Sec. 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: (1) be separate and distinct from other county offices; (2) be staffed by at least one full-time employee; and (…

Sec. 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 officers that it considers necessary. (b) To be appointed as an officer a person must: (1) b…

Sec. 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 establish an office and employ a veterans county service officer. The agreement must stipulat…

Sec. 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 of the person, to prepare, submit, and present any claim against the United States or a state for benefits to which the …

Sec. 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 officer renders under this subchapter. (b) An officer may not seek to influence the execution of a power of attorney to one national s…

Sec. 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 confined in the institution relating to a benefit to which the person may be entitled. Access to record…

Sec. 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 by the Texas Veterans Commission or approved under Subsection (e)(5). The com…

Sec. 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 commission, county service …