VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM.

(a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in:

(1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States; or

(2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section 431.001.

(b) The Texas Veterans Commission by rule shall establish and implement the veteran entrepreneur program to foster and promote veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership.

(c) The program shall provide assistance to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners by:

(1) performing outreach functions to improve veteran entrepreneurs' and business owners' awareness of federal and state benefits and services available to those veterans;

(2) assessing the need for benefits and services among veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;

(3) reviewing and researching programs, projects, and initiatives designed to address the needs of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;

(4) periodically evaluating the effectiveness of the commission's efforts to assist veteran entrepreneurs and business owners and making appropriate recommendations to the executive director of the commission to improve services and assistance provided to those veterans;

(5) incorporating issues concerning veteran entrepreneurs and business owners into the commission's plans for assisting veterans in securing benefits and services;

(6) advocating for veteran entrepreneurs and working to increase public awareness about the needs of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;

(7) recommending legislative initiatives and policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the issues affecting veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership;

(8) collaborating with federal, state, and private agencies that provide services to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners to allow the veterans to make use of those services;

(9) monitoring and researching issues affecting the interests of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;

(10) providing information about opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's collaborative network of businesses and organizations;

(11) providing guidance to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners through conferences, seminars, and training workshops with federal, state, and private agencies; and

(12) promoting events and activities that recognize or honor veteran entrepreneurs and business owners.

(c-1) The program shall establish regional coordinators in major centers of economic growth to provide the services described in Subsection (c).

(d) The executive director of the commission shall appoint a program coordinator to administer the program.

(e) The commission shall provide facilities as appropriate in support of the program to the extent funding is available for that purpose.

(f) The program shall consult with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Small Business Administration in developing procedures under this section to ensure the services provided by this program do not duplicate services provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Small Business Administration.