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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to qualifications for certain individuals for veterans |
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benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.029. CERTAIN VETERANS QUALIFIED FOR BENEFITS. (a) |
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In this section, "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
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disease. |
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(b) For purposes of determining qualifications for any |
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veterans benefits or services from the state, a former member of the |
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United States armed forces who received a less than honorable |
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discharge due to the individual's refusal to receive a vaccination |
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against COVID-19 shall be considered to have received an honorable |
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discharge. |
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(c) For a discharge of a former member of the United States |
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armed forces to be considered honorable under Subsection (b), the |
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former member of the United States armed forces must prove to the |
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Texas Veterans Commission that the individual's refusal to receive |
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a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason for the |
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individual's less than honorable discharge. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |