79R8984 MCK-D

By:  Corte                                                        H.B. No. 2342



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to eligibility for certain programs of the Veterans' Land 
Board.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 161.001(a)(7), Natural Resources Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
		(7)  "Veteran" means a person who:                                            
			(A)(i)  served not less than 90 [continuous] days, 
unless sooner discharged by reason of a service-connected 
disability, on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast 
Guard, United States Public Health Service (as constituted under 42 
U.S.C.  Section 201 et seq.), or Marine Corps of the United States 
after September 16, 1940, and who on the date of filing an 
application under the program has not been dishonorably discharged 
from the branch of the service in which the person served;
				(ii)  has at least 20 years of active or 
reserve military service as computed when determining the person's 
eligibility to receive retired pay under applicable federal law;
				(iii)  has enlisted or received an 
appointment in the Texas National Guard, who has completed all 
initial active duty training required as a condition of the 
enlistment or appointment, and who on the date of filing the 
person's application has not been dishonorably discharged from the 
Texas National Guard; or
				(iv)  served in the armed forces of the 
Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, if 
the board adopts a rule regarding these veterans under Subsection 
(b);
			(B)  at the time of the person's enlistment, 
induction, commissioning, appointment, or drafting was a bona fide 
resident of this state or has resided in this state at least one 
year immediately before the date of filing an application under 
this chapter; and
			(C)  at the time of the person's application under 
this chapter is a bona fide resident of this state.  The term 
includes the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died or who 
is identified as missing in action if the deceased or missing 
veteran meets the requirements of this section, with the exception 
that the deceased or missing veteran need not have served 90 
[continuous] days under Paragraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, and 
if the deceased or missing veteran was a bona fide resident of this 
state at the time of enlistment, induction, commissioning, 
appointment, or drafting.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.