Bill Text: TX SB1621 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to establishing veterans resource centers at certain institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-02 - Committee report printed and distributed [SB1621 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB1621-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Van de Putte, Davis S.B. No. 1621
(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2011; March 23, 2011, read
first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
Military Installations; May 2, 2011, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 1; May 2, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing veterans resource centers at certain
institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS
Sec. 434.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Education regions" means the education regions in
this state established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 434.152. VETERANS RESOURCE CENTERS. The commission
shall administer a veterans resource center in at least one
institution of higher education in each region specified in Section
434.153 to:
(1) provide a centralized place for veterans to find
assistance and information while enrolled at an institution of
higher education;
(2) deliver innovative, cost-effective programs to
attract veterans and family members of veterans to attend public
institutions of higher education;
(3) enable institutions of higher education to create
veteran-friendly environments;
(4) encourage veterans to take advantage of government
educational programs; and
(5) assist veterans in applying to public institutions
of higher education.
Sec. 434.153. LOCATIONS OF CENTERS. The commission shall
operate 15 veterans resource centers throughout the state with at
least one veterans resource center located in each of the following
higher education regions:
(1) High Plains Region;
(2) Northwest Texas Region;
(3) Metroplex Region;
(4) Upper East Texas Region;
(5) Southeast Texas Region;
(6) Gulf Coast Region;
(7) Central Texas Region;
(8) South Texas Region;
(9) West Texas Region; and
(10) Upper Rio Grande Region.
Sec. 434.154. DUTIES OF INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Each institution of higher education that has a veterans resource
center shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
commission. The memorandum of understanding must require the
institution of higher education to provide and bear the cost of the
following:
(1) office space on the campus of the institution of
higher education that is accessible to disabled persons and
complies with any applicable federal and state law; and
(2) office equipment, telephone equipment and
service, computer equipment, and Internet access.
Sec. 434.155. PROGRAM MANAGER. The commission shall employ
a program manager to administer the veterans resource center
program. The program manager shall:
(1) provide leadership, training, support, and
overall management of the veterans resource center program;
(2) evaluate the effectiveness of veterans resource
centers in identifying the services required by veterans to
optimize the success of veterans and their families in obtaining a
college education and in providing those services;
(3) supervise the regional veterans resource
counselors;
(4) prepare an annual budget;
(5) monitor the outcomes of the veterans resource
center program;
(6) using data provided by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, produce an annual report on veterans'
attendance at public institutions of higher education;
(7) apply to private organizations and foundations for
grant funding or other support that complements the objectives of
the program; and
(8) perform any other task as required by the
commission.
Sec. 434.156. REGIONAL VETERANS RESOURCE COUNSELORS.
(a) The commission shall employ a regional veterans resource
counselor for each education region to oversee the veterans
resource center or centers located in the region.
(b) A regional veterans resource counselor shall maintain
an office at a veterans resource center at an institution of higher
education located in the region served by the veterans resource
counselor.
(c) Each regional veterans resource counselor shall:
(1) visit the institutions of higher education located
in the education region served by the veterans resource counselor;
(2) work with those institutions of higher education
to:
(A) create a hospitable and supportive
environment for veterans;
(B) enhance awareness of and encourage
participation in veterans educational programs and commission
programs providing other services to veterans, including
employment and claims assistance services;
(C) develop programs providing ancillary
assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of veterans and
their families;
(D) ensure that veterans successfully complete
their education; and
(E) promote the establishment of a student
veterans group on each campus in the region;
(3) work with local, state, and national veterans
groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American
Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits to the
veteran population in the education region;
(4) work with local workforce development boards to:
(A) ensure that veterans counselors are aware of
available nontraditional educational opportunities, including
on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships; and
(B) advise employers in the region of potential
opportunities to create on-the-job training programs for veterans;
(5) work with education services officers at military
installations to encourage active duty members of the armed forces
of the United States and veterans to use federal and state
educational benefits;
(6) create and manage publicity campaigns in concert
with the commission and institutions of higher education in the
education region to promote the use of education benefits under the
federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38
U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.), the tuition exemption program for
veterans and their dependents under Section 54.203, Education Code,
and any other education benefit for veterans or their dependents
under federal or state law;
(7) support programs to assist combat veteran students
in readjusting and reintegrating into a noncombat environment;
(8) maintain statistical information regarding
demographics of veterans assisted, application success, program
completion rates, dropout rates, and reasons for success or
failure, as appropriate; and
(9) perform other activities, as assigned by the
commission, to enhance the educational opportunities of veterans
and their family members in the education region and throughout the
state.
Sec. 434.157. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission may
adopt rules to implement this subchapter.
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, 2011.
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