78R141 JRD-D

By:  Corte                                                        H.B. No. 18 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to excepting military discharge records from required 
public disclosure and providing that only the veteran and the 
veteran's immediate family may inspect or obtain copies of the 
records.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 552.140 to read as follows:
	Sec. 552.140.  MILITARY DISCHARGE RECORDS.  (a) A military 
veteran's Department of Defense Form DD-214 or other military 
discharge record that has been recorded with or that is otherwise in 
the possession of a governmental body is excepted from required 
public disclosure.
	(b)  A governmental body may allow only the following 
persons, on presentation of proper identification, to inspect or 
receive a copy of the form or other military discharge record:
		(1)  the veteran who is the subject of the form or 
record; or        
		(2)  the spouse, the natural or adopted child, or the 
parent of the veteran.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.