1-1     By:  Berman, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Truan)           H.B. No. 271
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 2, 2001;
 1-3     April 3, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
 1-4     Affairs and Military Installations; April 24, 2001, reported
 1-5     favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 24, 2001,
 1-6     sent to printer.)
 1-7                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-8                                   AN ACT
 1-9     relating to the ineligibility of certain veterans to receive
1-10     benefits under the Veterans' Land Program and the Veterans' Housing
1-11     Assistance Program.
1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13           SECTION 1. Section 161.001, Natural Resources Code, is
1-14     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-15           (c)  For purposes of this section, a person who has been
1-16     discharged from the branch of the service in which the person
1-17     served or from the Texas National Guard is considered not to have
1-18     been dishonorably discharged if the person:
1-19                 (1)  received an honorable discharge;
1-20                 (2)  received a discharge under honorable conditions;
1-21     or
1-22                 (3)  received a discharge and provides evidence from
1-23     the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or
1-24     other competent authority that indicates that the character of the
1-25     person's duty has been determined to be other than dishonorable.
1-26           SECTION 2. Section 162.001, Natural Resources Code, is
1-27     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-28           (c)  For purposes of this section, a person who has been
1-29     discharged from the branch of the service in which the person
1-30     served or from the Texas National Guard is considered not to have
1-31     been dishonorably discharged if the person:
1-32                 (1)  received an honorable discharge;
1-33                 (2)  received a discharge under honorable conditions;
1-34     or
1-35                 (3)  received a discharge and provides evidence from
1-36     the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor, or
1-37     other competent authority that indicates that the character of the
1-38     person's duty has been determined to be other than dishonorable.
1-39           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
1-40     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
1-41     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
1-42     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
1-43     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-44           (b)  The changes in law made by this Act do not affect a
1-45     contractual obligation that exists on the effective date of this
1-46     Act.
1-47                                  * * * * *