Bill Text: TX HB696 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to employment and referral services for veterans and military service members.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-10 - Effective immediately [HB696 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB696-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 696 |
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relating to employment and referral services for veterans and | ||
military service members. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 302.0033 and 302.00335 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 302.0033. OPERATION WELCOME HOME PROGRAM. (a) The | ||
commission shall establish and administer the Operation Welcome | ||
Home program to expedite the entry of veterans and military service | ||
members into the workforce through the use of enhanced employment | ||
services. In establishing the program, the commission shall build | ||
partnerships between military transition centers and local | ||
workforce development boards to ensure the availability of | ||
employment services, including services related to: | ||
(1) education; | ||
(2) career technical training; and | ||
(3) entrepreneurship. | ||
(b) The commission may award grants to state, local, or | ||
private entities that perform activities related to the purposes of | ||
this section. | ||
(c) The commission shall administer the program using money | ||
previously appropriated to the commission or received from federal | ||
or other sources. | ||
(d) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the | ||
administration of this section. | ||
Sec. 302.00335. TEXAS VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) | ||
The commission, in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission, | ||
shall establish a Texas Veterans Leadership Program. | ||
(b) The mission of the program is to serve as a resource and | ||
referral network connecting veterans with the resources and tools | ||
they need to lead productive lives and enjoy the full benefits of | ||
the society they have willingly served. | ||
(c) The program shall collaborate with local workforce | ||
development boards to provide services to veterans under this | ||
section. The program may collaborate with other federal, state, | ||
county, municipal, and private agencies to provide services to | ||
veterans under this section. | ||
(d) The program shall employ veterans to serve as veteran | ||
resource and referral specialists. A veteran resource and referral | ||
specialist shall: | ||
(1) seek out veterans in need of services; | ||
(2) serve as a resource and referral agent, directing | ||
veterans to resources tailored to veterans' needs; | ||
(3) make referrals and coordinate with other programs | ||
of the commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and other | ||
federal, state, county, municipal, and private agencies that | ||
provide services for veterans relating to: | ||
(A) employment; | ||
(B) education and training; | ||
(C) medical care; | ||
(D) mental health and counseling; and | ||
(E) veterans benefits; and | ||
(4) coordinate the services of volunteer veterans | ||
familiar with the obstacles faced by veterans to assist in | ||
mentoring and serving veterans. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 696 was passed by the House on April | ||
26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 4, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 696 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |