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2 Document(s) [ Subject: Veterans' employment ]
| Committee: | Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | 211 telephone system | Base realignment and closure | Federal budgets | Mental health services | Military and veterans benefits | Military bases | Military spending | Occupational licenses | Student aid | Veterans | Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of | Veterans Commission, Texas | Veterans employment | Veterans health care | Veterans with disabilities | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.83 V641 | |
| Session: | 83rd R.S. (2013) | |
| Online version: | View report [38 pages] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Investigate the impact of federal actions (including the federal government shutdown, sequestration, military force reductions, and potential base closure or realignment) on active-duty service members, the Texas Military Department, veterans, their families, defense-related contractors, small businesses, local governments, and state agencies. | |
| 2. | Monitor and examine efforts to provide employment and workforce opportunities for veterans, service members, and their families. Make recommendations on how best to continue collaborating with and supporting our honored veterans as they re-enter the civilian workforce, including improving employment opportunities for veterans at all state agencies. | |
| 3. | Provide an update on the State Strike Force teams’ progress and recommendations on any additional steps necessary to ensure that veterans promptly receive all federal disability benefits to which they are entitled. | |
| 4. | Study and make recommendations to improve access to services provided by non-profit organizations to veterans, their families, and survivors, including examining the effectiveness, standards, and consistency of the 2-1-1 information and referral system for military and veteran families statewide. | |
| 5. | Monitor the implementation of the veterans occupational licensure bills passed during the 83rd Legislative Session to expedite the licensure process for those who are serving, have served, or are married to someone serving our nation in uniform. Study and make recommendations to strengthen and improve state efforts to ease the transition of military veterans and their spouses into the Texas civilian workforce. | |
| 6. | Monitor implementation of the veteran's mental health legislation passed during the 83rd Legislative Session, including funding to support the Military Veteran Peer Network at Department of State Health Services. Assess whether state mental health initiatives targeted to veterans and their families appropriately address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Study and make recommendations to enhance the delivery of mental health services to veterans at the local level through the network of Veteran County Service Officers. | |
| 7. | In addition to the formal Interim Charges, the VAMI Committee reviewed allegations that the VA has denied health and mental health care and manipulated waiting lists to access care. The Committee also considered whether or not the state has a role in assisting veterans in Texas with VA health care as it did with the Strike Force Teams for VA disability claims. | |
| Committee: | Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Courts | Hazlewood Act | Mental health services | Military and veterans benefits | Military bases | Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services | Texas Military Preparedness Commission | Texas National Guard | Texas State Guard | Veterans | Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of | Veterans Commission, Texas | Veterans educational benefits | Veterans employment | Veterans health care | Veterans homes | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.82 V641 | |
| Session: | 82nd R.S. (2011) | |
| Online version: | View report [40 pages] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Study the employment rate of Texas veterans, and consider ways to better coordinate federal, state, local and private resources to enhance employment services. Examine the transfer of Veteran Employment Services (VES) from the Texas Workforce Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission, and include an assessment of the impact on Texas veterans and their families. Make recommendations for improving services and possible expansion of services to potential additional returning veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. | |
| 2. | Review the benefits claims process for filing with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the Texas Veterans Commission's Claims Representation and Counseling program and make recommendations to improve the quality of life for veterans and their families. Coordinate with the Senate Finance Committee to identify and maximize funding options, reduce claims backlogs, and increase the benefits received by Texas veterans. | |
| 3. | Examine methods to support veteran participation in higher education. Examine the use of the Hazlewood Act by Texas veterans, and include recommendations to maximize programs to effectively serve veterans and their families. Determine the efficacy of establishing Veteran Resource Centers at institutions of higher education to assist in student veteran academic achievement, provide additional funding for institutions from increased Montgomery GI Bill revenue, and better integrate veterans on college campuses. | |
| 4. | Evaluate the status of mental health services for veterans and Texas Military Forces. Include an assessment of peer counseling programs, "aftercare" provided for units within their local communities following a trauma within the group, and efforts to address the secondary mental health and substance abuse issues caused by post traumatic stress disorders and other combat-related disorders. | |
| 5. | Consider establishing a "Commander's Council" in conjunction with the Office of the Governor's Texas Military Preparedness Commission, to allow commanders of Texas' military forces and installations to better coordinate and communicate with the Texas Legislature and state leadership. Develop a comprehensive communication plan with Texas military installations, and recommend any legislative initiatives necessary to support the installations, active-duty service members and their families on and around the installations, and the partnerships between the defense community and the community within which the military installations reside. | |
| 6. | Study the appropriate role of Texas state military forces in enhancing the safety of all Texans, and make recommendations for improving the coordination, accountability, and effectiveness of all components of our state military forces, including the national, state, and air guards. Identify limitations on the forces providing border security and other operations, and make recommendations for better coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. (Joint Charge with the Transportation & Homeland Security Committee) | |
| 7. | Study the use and impact of Veterans Courts throughout Texas. Make recommendations relating to potential funding sources, staffing requirements, additional direct services not provided by the Veterans Administration, and possible expansion. | |
| 8. | Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
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