85R6612 SMT-D     By: Blanco H.B. No. 1973       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to enhanced employment services for veterans and military   servicemembers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is   amended by adding Section 302.0033 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   servicemembers 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.          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, 2017.