BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 206

By: Flynn

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties express concern that members of the Texas military forces who serve in the Texas State Guard are ineligible for Veterans' Land Board benefits despite their service to Texas. H.B. 206 seeks to address these concerns by classifying certain persons with service in the Texas State Guard as veterans for purposes relating to the board.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 206 amends the law to include a person who has at least 15 years of active or reserve state military service as a member of the Texas State Guard and who meets certain Texas residency requirements among the persons defined as a "veteran" for purposes of provisions relating to the Veterans' Land Board.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.