SB+1538+Texas+Legislature+81st+Session

SB 1538 Senate Bill 1538 relates to the idea of having a centralized location for veterans to acquire information to further pursue their educational benefits. [|Introduce Bill Text] Above is a link to the specific text of the bill which was first introduced Outline Of Bill: To first understand the signifigance of this bill, let's get clear on the facts. Majority of the young enlistees into the military are primarily concerned with college. The military is a route in which the average citizen who qualifies can open up new doors to their future. The problem is that the military or texas universites do not have proper instructions in place to facilitate the means of guiding veterans through their educational success. This bill creates veterans resource centers to rectify the problem. The purpose of the centers would be to provide centralized focal points of assistance and information to veterans and their families during their educational experience. The centers would align with the Texas Veterans Commission's commitment to meeting the needs of this unique group of citizens on par across urban, rural, and border areas by delivering innovative, cost-effective programs to attract veterans and family members to attend public colleges and universities in the state; enabling schools to create veteran-friendly environments; encouraging veterans to take advantage of Montgomery GI Bill and Hazlewood Act opportunities; and providing assistance and certain services to veterans and their families throughout their collective educational experience, facilitating the transition of our valiant veterans from military service to the civilian workplace.

Committee Report: The fiscal analysis claims that by 2011 the state of Texas would have to spend over 2 million dollars to impliment this plan for 15 regional locations to be operational within 2010. The Higher Education Coordinating Board has indicated that the establishment of the new veterans' resource centers will increase enrollment at higher education institutions resulting in increased tuition and fee revenue for the institutions. They assumed that the centers would be fully operational beginning in fiscal year 2011 and estimated an additional 3,188 veterans and their family members will enroll in a public institution of higher education resulting in additional tuition and fee revenue of approximately $9.6 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2011.

[|committee report and fiscal analysis]

Other Key Notes: The Montgomery GI Bill provides veterans who choose to participate with up to 36 months of benefits for college, technical or vocational courses and other training opportunities. Service members agree to a $100 per month reduction in pay during their first 12 months of active service, for a total contribution of $1,200. While money paid into the program is non-refundable, under current law, veterans have a limited amount of time to use their education benefits before they expire. Those who served in active duty have ten years, reservists fourteen years. While approximately 80% of service members contribute to the GI Bill program, only 59% take advantage of their education benefits before they expire, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Now the issue with this is if the number one reason why people join the military is to further their education, and out of the 80% who participate only 59% actually follow through with it, we have to ask ourselves why. I believe it is because there is not enough support through the military channels or V.A. (Veteran Affairs) to allow soldiers to get a proper start on their academic future. Being a veteran myself, I can protest to the lack of knowledge Texas universities have on V.A. benefits and there is not a designated person or place to go to for help. A veteran has to do an abundant amount of research to get started with his/her education, while the average civilian student gets to have their hand held through this process.

Author: Van De Putte of filed 3/25/2009 to take effect if passed on 9/1/2009

Rulemaking Authority: Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) under Sec.434.157.

Identical Bill HB1421 [|HB 1421 Identical Bill] This bill already passed through the House of Represenatives on 4/22/09 and then passed to the Senate. The vote for the house on this bill was Ayes=5 Nays=0 Present Not Voting=0 Absent=4. The vote on the Senate was Ayes=5 Nays=0 Present Not Voting=0 Absent=0. Both are out of committee and awaiting approval by Governor to become active.

History: Summary: The bottom line on this issue is whether or not the legislative office will budget this bill in with everything else. There was not much of an arguement about if this is an important bill or not, due to primarily Texas being pro-military. Texas also has a strong backing with Veterans Affairs and all of the programs envolved. The state will see a increase in revenue by over 300% in just one short year. American soldiers shouldn't pass up on the opportunity to further thier education, especially when it is a matter of whether or not they have the proper means to acquire it. I believe this is a very important bill, being a veteran myself, and thank the people under the Veterans commission who decided to push this bill through.
 * **Actions**: (descending date order) ||
 * Viewing Votes: [|Most Recent Senate Vote] ||
 * Description || Comment || [|Date][[image:http://www.legis.state.tx.us/images/downarrow.gif width="13" height="10" link="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Actions.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB1538&Sort=A#Actions"]] || Time || Journal Page ||
 * H || Committee report sent to Calendars ||  || 05/19/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * H || Committee report printed and distributed ||  || 05/19/2009 || 06:05 PM ||   ||
 * H || [|Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator] ||  || 05/19/2009 ||   || 4221 ||
 * H || Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) ||  || 05/13/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * H || Considered in public hearing ||  || 05/13/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * H || [|Referred to Defense & Veterans' Affairs] ||  || 05/07/2009 ||   || 2865 ||
 * H || [|Read first time] ||  || 05/07/2009 ||   || 2865 ||
 * H || [|Received from the Senate] ||  || 05/04/2009 ||   || 2429 ||
 * S || [|Reported engrossed] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1997 ||
 * S || [|Record vote] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Passed] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Read 3rd time] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Record vote] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Three day rule suspended] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Vote recorded in Journal] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || [|Rules suspended-Regular order of business] ||  || 05/01/2009 ||   || 1905 ||
 * S || Placed on intent calendar ||  || 04/28/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Committee report printed and distributed ||  || 04/27/2009 || 11:21 AM ||   ||
 * S || [|Reported favorably as substituted] ||  || 04/27/2009 ||   || 1660 ||
 * S || Considered in public hearing ||  || 04/22/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Scheduled for public hearing on . . . ||  || 04/22/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || [|Co-author authorized] ||  || 03/31/2009 ||   || 778 ||
 * S || Left pending in committee ||  || 03/25/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Testimony taken in committee ||  || 03/25/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Considered in public hearing ||  || 03/25/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Scheduled for public hearing on . . . ||  || 03/25/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || [|Referred to Veteran Affairs & Military Instal] ||  || 03/17/2009 ||   || 572 ||
 * S || [|Read first time] ||  || 03/17/2009 ||   || 572 ||
 * S || Filed ||  || 03/09/2009 ||   ||   ||
 * S || Received by the Secretary of the Senate ||  || 03/09/2009 ||   ||   ||