SRC-BWC H.B. 271 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 271 By: Berman (Truan) Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 4/17/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Each branch of the United States military uses various terms to describe the character of service for each person discharged from duty. While "honorable" and "dishonorable" discharges are clearly identified as such, other types of discharges are not as clearly described. Under current law, participation in the Veterans' Land Program and the Veterans' Housing Assistance Program (programs) is available to veterans who have not been "dishonorably discharged." Because other terms are used to describe the possible honorable and dishonorable conditions of a veteran's discharge, it may be unclear as to whether participation in these programs is available to certain discharged veterans. As proposed, H.B.271 provides descriptions of discharges which make a person eligible to receive benefits in the programs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.001, Natural Resources Code, to provide that for purposes of this section, a person who has been discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served or from the Texas National Guard is considered not to have been dishonorably discharged if the person received an honorable discharge; received a discharge under honorable conditions; or received a discharge and provides evidence from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or other competent authority that indicates that the character of the person's duty has been determined to be other than dishonorable. SECTION 2. Amends Section 162.001, Natural Resources Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective.