1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the ineligibility of certain veterans to receive 1-3 benefits under the Veterans' Land Program and the Veterans' Housing 1-4 Assistance Program. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Section 161.001, Natural Resources Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-8 (c) For purposes of this section, a person who has been 1-9 discharged from the branch of the service in which the person 1-10 served or from the Texas National Guard is considered not to have 1-11 been dishonorably discharged if the person: 1-12 (1) received an honorable discharge; 1-13 (2) received a discharge under honorable conditions; 1-14 or 1-15 (3) received a discharge and provides evidence from 1-16 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or 1-17 other competent authority that indicates that the character of the 1-18 person's duty has been determined to be other than dishonorable. 1-19 SECTION 2. Section 162.001, Natural Resources Code, is 1-20 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-21 (c) For purposes of this section, a person who has been 1-22 discharged from the branch of the service in which the person 1-23 served or from the Texas National Guard is considered not to have 1-24 been dishonorably discharged if the person: 2-1 (1) received an honorable discharge; 2-2 (2) received a discharge under honorable conditions; 2-3 or 2-4 (3) received a discharge and provides evidence from 2-5 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or 2-6 other competent authority that indicates that the character of the 2-7 person's duty has been determined to be other than dishonorable. 2-8 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it 2-9 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each 2-10 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. 2-11 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate 2-12 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-13 (b) The changes in law made by this Act do not affect a 2-14 contractual obligation that exists on the effective date of this 2-15 Act. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 271 was passed by the House on March 29, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 271 was passed by the Senate on April 26, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________________ Date __________________________ Governor