Tex. Gov't Code Section 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 contributed to the fund;

(3)

the earnings of the fund;

(4)

money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the lottery game operated under Section 466.027 (Veterans’ Assistance Game) or transferred to the fund under Section 466.408 (Unclaimed Prizes)(b);

(5)

money deposited to the credit of the fund under Section 502.1746 (Voluntary Contribution to Veterans’ Assistance Fund), Transportation Code;

(6)

money deposited to the credit of the fund under Sections 521.008 (Voluntary Contributions) and 522.0295 (Voluntary Contributions), Transportation Code;

(7)

money deposited to the credit of the fund under Section 12.007 (Voluntary Contribution to Fund for Veterans’ Assistance), Parks and Wildlife Code; and

(8)

money deposited to the credit of the fund under Section 411.1741 (Voluntary Contribution to Fund for Veterans’ Assistance).

(b)

Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (e), money in the fund may not be appropriated for any purpose.

(c)

Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas Veterans Commission. Money appropriated under this subsection shall be used to:

(1)

make grants to address veterans’ needs;

(2)

make grants to provide pro bono legal services to veterans, active duty members of the United States armed forces, and members of the state military forces;

(3)

administer the fund; and

(4)

analyze and investigate data received from the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) that is administered by the Administration for Children and Families of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(c-1)

Every four years, the commission shall:

(1)

conduct a needs assessment to identify the specific high-priority needs of veterans and the services available to address those needs;

(2)

determine the grant categories that correspond to the needs identified under Subdivision (1); and

(3)

identify any discrepancy between the needs identified under Subdivision (1) and the services available to address those needs.

(c-2)

On completion of the needs assessment and other determinations under Subsection (c-1), the commission shall incorporate the results of the assessment and determinations into the commission’s process for awarding grants from the fund for veterans’ assistance.

(c-3)

In making the grants required under Subsection (c), the Texas Veterans Commission shall use at least five percent of the money appropriated to the commission under that subsection in each state fiscal year to provide grants to veterans county service offices created as provided by Section 434.032 (Creation). A veterans county service office that receives a grant under Subsection (c) shall use the money to provide direct assistance and services to veterans residing in the county served by that office. On July 1 of each state fiscal year, if the commission has not received sufficient grant requests from veterans county service offices to make grants to the offices in the amount of five percent of the money appropriated to the commission under Subsection (c) in that state fiscal year, the commission may use any amount of the five percent remaining on that date for any purpose authorized under that subsection. This subsection may not be construed to prevent the commission from using more than five percent of the money appropriated to the commission under Subsection (c) to provide grants to veterans county service offices.

(c-4)

The commission shall publish the most recent needs assessment under Subsection (c-1) on the commission’s Internet website.

(d)

The Texas Veterans Commission may adopt rules governing the award of grants by the commission under this section. The commission shall adopt rules governing the award of grants to veterans county service offices under Subsection (c-3).

(e)

To carry out any purpose of this chapter, the commission may solicit, accept, or refuse a gift, grant, devise, bequest of money, security, service, or property, including money raised or a service provided by a volunteer or volunteer group, to promote the work of the commission for any purpose related to the fund for veterans’ assistance. The commission may participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization that is established for the purpose of raising money for or providing services or other benefits to the commission or a program established in the commission, including the Texas Women Veterans Program. A gift, grant, devise, or bequest to the fund may be appropriated in the same manner as other money in the fund, subject to the purposes provided by Subsection (c) and any limitation or requirement placed on the gift, grant, devise, or bequest by the donor or granting entity.

(f)

Sections 403.095 (Use of Dedicated Revenue) and 404.071 (Disposition of Interest on Investments) do not apply to the fund.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 395 (S.B. 1480), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Redesignated from Government Code, Section 403.108 and amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1418 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 16(a), eff. June 15, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 840 (S.B. 1940), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1385 (S.B. 1655), Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 11.011, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 669 (S.B. 1635), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 673 (S.B. 1739), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 673 (S.B. 1739), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 26.01, eff. September 28, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 868 (H.B. 633), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 160 (H.B. 1584), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 210 (S.B. 1879), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 325 (H.B. 867), Sec. 2, eff. June 4, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 821 (H.B. 3710), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.002(11), eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 6.006, eff. September 1, 2017.
Reenacted and amended by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S. B. 1488), Sec. 8.006, eff. September 1, 2017.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 753 (S.B. 1679), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (S.B. 601), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 675 (S.B. 2104), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 614 (H.B. 3798), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2023.

Source: Section 434.017 — Fund for Veterans' Assistance, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.­434.­htm#434.­017 (accessed Mar. 23, 2024).

434.001
Commission
434.002
Application of Sunset, Open Meetings, and Administrative Procedure Laws
434.003
Members
434.004
Conflict of Interest
434.005
Removal
434.006
Officers
434.007
Duties
434.008
Fees Prohibited
434.009
Executive Director
434.010
Rules
434.011
Office
434.012
Compensation and Expenses
434.013
Finances
434.014
Employment Practices
434.015
Information of Public Interest
434.016
Gifts and Grants
434.017
Fund for Veterans’ Assistance
434.018
Performance Incentive Award
434.019
Veterans Hospital
434.020
Notice to State Cemetery Committee of Servicemember’s Death
434.021
Confidential Information Received by the Commission
434.022
Veteran Entrepreneur Program
434.023
Health Care Advocacy Program for Veterans
434.024
Veterans Community Outreach Campaign
434.025
Information Regarding Veteran’s Employment Preference Policies
434.026
Online Repository for Active Duty Military
434.027
Energy Industry Program for Veteran Professional Development
434.028
Citizenship Assistance for Veterans
434.029
Certain Veterans Qualified for Benefits
434.031
Definitions
434.032
Creation
434.033
Officers
434.034
Joint Employment
434.035
Duties
434.036
Prohibitions
434.037
Access to Records
434.038
Training and Certification
434.039
Coordination with County Service Officers and Commissioners Courts
434.0061
Training
434.0071
Memorandum of Understanding
434.0076
Record of Complaints
434.0077
Negotiated Rulemaking and Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures
434.0078
Claims Assistance Services
434.0079
Duties Regarding Certain Tuition and Fee Exemptions for Veterans and Family Members
434.0091
Separation of Policymaking and Management Responsibilities
434.0101
Advisory Committees
434.101
Definitions
434.102
Veterans Website
434.103
Commission Forms
434.104
Benefits Booklets
434.105
Electronic Access to Newsletter or Services
434.107
Use of Technology
434.108
Directory of Services
434.0151
Public Participation
434.151
Definitions
434.152
Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services
434.153
Composition of Council
434.154
Coordinating Workgroups
434.155
Presiding Officer
434.156
Meetings
434.157
Administrative Support
434.158
Report by Council
434.0161
Use of Funds to Support Outreach and Training
434.0171
State Employee Contributions to Fund for Veterans’ Assistance
434.201
Definitions
434.202
Establishment of Program
434.203
Coordinator
434.204
General Program Duties
434.0205
Confidentiality of Information Provided to Commission
434.205
Advocacy and Public Awareness
434.206
Collaboration
434.207
Research
434.208
Education
434.209
Honor and Recognition
434.210
Facilities
434.211
Funding
434.212
Women Veterans Report
434.213
Women Veterans Community Outreach Campaign
434.214
Application for State Agency Programs, Services, or Assistance
434.0241
Veterans Suicide Prevention Campaign
434.251
Definitions
434.252
Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award Network
434.253
Rulemaking Authority
434.301
Definitions
434.302
Veterans Education Counselors
434.303
Support from Institutions of Higher Education
434.304
Rulemaking Authority
434.351
Definitions
434.352
Duties
434.353
Training and Certification
434.401
Community Collaboration
434.00791
Electronic System to Monitor Tuition Exemptions for Veterans and Family Members
434.3525
Mental Health Program Director Eligibility

Accessed:
Mar. 23, 2024

§ 434.017’s source at texas​.gov