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 * * * * *